m 


AESCHYLUS :  AGAMEMNON 


TEXT  AND    TRANSLATION 


•    1 

I         •     - 


CAMBRIDGE 
PUBLISHED    BY   HARVARD   UNIVERSITY 

1906 


The  translation  is  by  W.  W.  Goodwin,  Eliot  Professor  of 
Greek  Literature,  Emeritus.  The  translation  has  been  made 
as  literal  as  possible,  for  use  at  the  presentation  of  the  play  in 
June,  1906.    Professor  Goodwin  has  also  edited  the  Greek  text. 

For  the  use  of  the  plates  of  the  text  the  Classical  Depart- 
ment of  Harvard  University  is  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of 
the  American  Bool:  Company. 


V\ 


Copyright,  1906,  by  W.  W.  Goodwin. 


As 

The  "Agamemnon "  is  the  first  of  three  connected  tragedies 
which  together  won  the  first  prize  in  the  dramatic  contest  at 
Athens  in  the  spring  of  458  B.C. 

Ten  years  have  passed  since  Agamemnon,  the  son  of  Atreus,  and 
King  of  Argos  and  Mycenae,  led  the  expedition  against  Troy  to 
take  vengeance  on  Paris,  Priam's  son,  who  had  carried  off  Helen, 
wife  of  his  brother  Menelaus.  To  appease  the  wrath  of  Artemis 
whom  he  had  angered,  and  who  therefore  restrained  the  fleet 
at  Aulis,  Agamemnon  has  been  compelled  to  sacrifice  his  daugh- 
ter Iphigenia.  Filled  with  desire  to  avenge  on  the  King  the  death 
of  her  child,  Queen  Clytaemnestra  (Helen's  sister),  who  mean- 
time held  sway  at  Argos,  lent  a  willing  ear  to  the  passion  of  Prince 
Aegisthus,  son  of  that  Thyestes  whom  his  brother  Atreus  had 
caused  to  feast  on  the  flesh  of  his  own  children  in  requital  for  the 
seduction  of  his  wife  by  Thyestes.  The  curse  resting  on  the  house 
of  Agamemnon  had  descended  from  earlier  generations ;  for  Atreus 
was  the  son  of  Pelops,  who  by  foul  play  had  won  his  bride  Hippo- 
dameia  from  her  father  Oenomaus,  and  Pelops  was  himself  the  son 
of  Tantalus. 

Now  it  had  been  foretold  that  Troy  should  fall  in  the  tenth  year 
of  the  siege,  and  for  the  space  of  an  entire  year  a  watchman  has 
been  stationed  on  the  roof  of  the  palace  at  Argos,  on  the  lookout 
for  the  flaming  of  the  nearest  of  the  series  of  beacon-fires  arranged 
by  Agamemnon  to  convey  intelligence  to  his  Queen  that  Troy  had 
fallen.  —  Here  the  action  of  the  play  begins. 

The  "  Libation-pourers."  —  After  the  murder  of  Agamemnon, 
Clytaemnestra  and  Aegisthus  rule  at  Argos  undisturbed  for  seven 
years.  Though  her  crime  remains  unpunished,  the  Queen  has 
dreamed  that  she  has  given  birth  to  a  serpent  which  she  has  nour- 
ished at  her  breast.  Now  it  came  to  pass  that  Orestes,  her  son 
and  Agamemnon's,  who  had  been  sent  away  to  Phocis,  has  grown 
to  manhood  and  returns,  in  company  with  his  friend  Pylades,  in 
obedience  to  the  command  of  Apollo,  to  take  vengeance  upon  his 
mother.  On  the  day  of  his  arrival  his  sister  Electra,  who  had 
remained  at  home  suffering  contumely  at  the  hands  of  her  mother, 
has  been  despatched  by  the  Queen  to  the  tomb  of  Agamemnon, 

iii 


Μ     fii>f>iS 


IV 

bearing  offerings  by  which  Clytaemnestra  hoped  to  propitiate  the 
shade  of  her  murdered  husband.  The  Princess  is  accompanied  by 
her  handmaidens,  consisting  of  captive  Trojan  women,  who  form 
the  chorus  of  "  Libation-pourers."  Despite  their  long  separation, 
brother  and  sister  recognize  each  other  and  prepare  to  avenge  their 
murdered  father.  Orestes  disguises  himself  and  reappears  as  a 
stranger,  who  tells  the  Queen  a  false  message  of  his  own  death, 
which  she  receives  with  feigned  grief.  Orestes  is  lodged  within 
the  palace,  and  the  absent  Aegisthus  is  sent  for,  but  returns  only  to 
meet  his  death.  His  cries  summon  Clytaemnestra,  who  discovers 
his  dead  body,  and  beside  it  the  stranger  in  whom  she  divines  her 
own  son.  The  mother  at  first  appeals  for  pity,  then,  regaining 
courage,  threatens  her  son  with  madness  from  the  Furies,  who 
avenge  the  crime  of  matricide.  Clytaemnestra  is  driven  within  and 
killed  by  Orestes,  who  reappears  bearing  the  blood-stained  robe  in 
which  his  father  had  been  entangled  in  the  bath.  Orestes  then 
declares  his  purpose  to  seek  purification  at  Apollo's  shrine  at 
Delphi,  but  sees  the  avenging  Furies  of  his  mother,  who  are  visible 
to  him  alone,  and  rushes  forth  pursued  by  them. 

The  "Furies."  —  Orestes  appears  as  a  suppliant  in  the  sanctuary 
at  Delphi  overtaken  by  the  dread  band  of  Furies,  who  have  pursued 
him  even  to  the  shrine  of  his  patron  God.  The  ghost  of  Clytaem- 
nestra arouses  the  Furies,  who  have  fallen  asleep  after  their  long 
chase,  and  stimulates  them  to  their  duty  of  enacting  vengeance  on 
a  son  who  has  shed  a  mother's  blood.  Apollo  presents  himself  to 
the  harassed  Orestes  and  bids  him  repair  to  Athens  and  take  sanctu- 
ary on  the  Acropolis  there  under  the  protection  of  Athena.  The 
scene  shifts  to  Athens,  where  a  solemn  court  is  instituted  on  the 
Areopagus  under  the  presidency  of  the  Athenian  goddess.  Orestes 
defends  his  action  as  undertaken  by  the  injunction  of  Apollo,  who 
testifies  in  his  behalf  and  justifies  his  counsel.  The  Furies  them- 
selves are  the  accusers,  and  are  incensed  at  the  acquittal  of  their 
intended  victim,  who  is  pronounced  guiltless  only  by  the  deciding 
ballot  of  Athena.  Their  threats  to  bring  ruin  on  the  land  of 
Athena  yield  to  the  entreaties  of  the  Goddess,  who  promises  them 
honors  for  all  time  if  they  will  lay  aside  their  wrath  and  make 
Athens  their  abiding  place.  And  thus  the  curse  of  the  house  of 
Agamemnon  is  laid  at  rest. 


DRAMATIS    PERSONAL• 

Agamemnon,  King  of  Argos. 

Clytaemnestra,  his  Queen. 

Cassandra,  a  captive  Trojan  princess  and  prophetess. 

Aegisthus,  a  prince,  cousin  of  Agamemnon. 

Watchman. 

Herald. 

Chorus  of  Argive  Elders. 

Scene  :  before  the  Royal  Palace  at  Argos. 
Time  :  night,  and  then  day. 


- 


'  r  c    ι 


AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 


WATCHMAN 

I  have  prayed  the  Gods  for  respite  from  these 
toils  through  the  length  of  my  year's  watch, 
while,  bedded  on  the  roof  of  the  Atreidae,  from 
my  bended  arm  I  watch  like  a  dog  the  assem- 
blage  of   the   stars   of   night,   those   that   bring 

5  winter  and  summer  to  mortals,  bright  lords 
gleaming  in  the  sky,  —  the  stars  I  mean,  their 
settings  and  their  risings.  And  now  I  am  watch- 
ing for  the  signal  of  the  torch,  the  gleam  of  fire 
that  is  to  bring  news  from  Troy  and  tidings  of 

io  her  capture;  for  so  commands  a  woman's  manly 
counselling  hopeful  heart.  But  while  I  keep  this 
night-wandering  dewy  bed,  not  visited  by  dreams, 
—  this  bed  of  mine,  for  fear  is  my  companion  in 

15  place  of  sleep,  so  that  I  cannot  close  my  eyes 
steadily  in  slumber,  —  and  when  I  please  to  sing 
or  hum,  taking  this  medicine  of  song  to  keep  off 
sleep,  then  I  weep,  bewailing  the  calamities  of 
this  house,  which  is  not  as  of  yore  ordered  for  the 

20  best.  And  now  I  pray  that  a  happy  release  from 
my  toils  may  come,  by  the  signal  fire  appearing 
with  good  tidings  through  the  gloom  of  night. 

Hail,  light  of  the   night,  showing  us   a   light 


ΑΙΣΧΤΛΟΤ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 


ΦΥΛΑΞ 


ι 

Θεούς  μεν  αιτώ  τωνδ*  άπαλλαγην  πόνων, 
φρουράς  ετείας  μήκος,  ην  κοιμώμενος 
στεγαις  Ατρειδών  άγκαθεν,  κυνός  δίκην, 
οίστρων  κάτοιδα  νυκτερων  ομηγυριν, 

5         καί  τους  φέροντας  χεϊμα  καϊ  θέρος  βροτοίς 
λάμπρους  δυνάστας,  εμπρεποντας  αίθερι, 
αστέρας,  όταν  φθίνωσιν,  άντολάς  τε  των. 
καί  νυν  φυλάσσω  λαμπάδος  το  σύμβολον, 
αυγην  πυρός  φερουσαν  εκ  Τροίας  φατιν 

ίο       άλώσιμόν  τε  βάξιν  •    ωδε  γαρ  κρατεί 
γυναικός  άνδρόβουλον  ελπιζον  κεαρ. 
ευτ   αν  δε  νυκτίπλαγκτον  ενδροσόν  τ   εχω 
εύνην  όνείροις  ουκ  επισκοπουμενην 
εμην  —  φόβος  γαρ  άνθ*  ύπνου  παραστατεί, 

ΐ5       το  μη  βεβαίως  βλέφαρα  συμβαλεΐν  υπνω  — 
όταν  δ*  άείδειν  η  μινύρεσθαι  δοκω, 
ύπνου  τοδ'  άντίμολπον  εντεμνων  ακος, 
κλαίω  τότ   οίκου  τούδε  συμφοραν  στενών^ 
ούχ  ως  τά  πρόσθ'  άριστα  δ  ιαπ  όνου  μεν  ου. 

2ο       νυν  δ'  ευτυχής  γενοιτ   απαλλαγή  πόνων 
ευαγγελου  φανεντος  ορφναίου  πυρός, 
ω  χαίρε  λαμπτηρ  νυκτός,  ήμερήσιον 

3 


4  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

bright  as  the  day,  and  causing  many  choruses 
to   assemble   in  Argos   to   celebrate  this  event. 

25  Huzza!  Huzza!  I  give  this  loud  signal  to  Aga- 
memnon's queen,  that  she  rise  from  her  couch 
with  all  haste  and  raise  a  song  of  joyous  triumph 
in  the  palace  for  this  signal-fire,  if  the  city  of  I  lion 

30  is  really  captured,  as  this  bright  flame  clearly 
announces.  And  I  myself  will  dance  a  prelude ; 
for  I  shall  count  it  that  our  masters'  fortunes  have 
taken  a  lucky  turn,  since  this  fire  has  thrown  me 
treble  sixes.      May  it  be  my  fortune  with  this 

35  hand  of  mine  to  lift  the  loving  hand  of  the  master 
of  this  house  on  his  return.  Of  all  else  I  am 
silent ;  a  great  ox  has  stept  upon  my  tongue.  Yet 
the  house  itself,  if  it  should  find  a  voice,  might 
speak  most  plainly ;  but  I  willingly  speak  to 
those  who  know,  and  willingly  forget  to  those 
who  know  not. 


CHORUS 

40  This  is  the  tenth  year  since  Priam's  great  adver- 

saries, King  Menelaus  and  Agamemnon,  with 
double-throned  and  double-sceptred  honor  from 
Zeus,  a  mighty  pair  of  sons  of  Atreus,  led  from 

45  this  shore  the  Argive  armament  of  a  thousand 
ships,  a  vengeful  array,  shouting  the  name  of 
mighty    Ares    from    their    hearts,    like   vultures 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

φάος  πιφανσκων  και  χορών  κατάστασιν 
πολλών  εν  "Αργεί,  τησδε  συμφοράς  χάριν. 


25       ίου  Ιου. 


Αγαμέμνονος  γυναικι  σημαίνω  τορώς, 
εννης  επαντείλασαν  ώς  τάχος  δόμους 
ολολνγμον  ενφημονντα  τηδε  Χαμπάδι 
επορθιάζειν,  εϊπερ  *Ιλιου  πόλις 

3°       εαλωκεν,  ως  6  φρνκτος  άγγέλλων  πρέπει  • 
αυτός  τ'  εγωγε  φροίμιον  χορενσομαι. 
τα  δεσποτών  γάρ  εν  πεσόντα  θησομαι 
τρϊς  εξ  βαλονσης  τησδε  μοι  φρυκτωρίας, 
γένοιτο  δ'  ονν  μολόντος  ενφιλη  χέρα 

35       άνακτος  οίκων  τηδε  βαστάσαι  χερί. 

τα  δ'  άλλα  σιγώ  ■   βονς  επί  γλώσση  μέγας 
βέβηκεν  ■    οίκος  δ'  αυτός,  εΐ  φθογγην  λάβοι, 
σαφεστατ   αν  λέζειεν  •   ώς  εκών  εγώ 
μαθονσιν  ανδώ  κον  μαθονσι  ληθομαι. 

XOPOS 

4θ       δεκατον  μεν  έτος  τοδ'  έπεί  ΐίριάμον 

μέγας  αντίδικος, 

Μενέλαος  άναζ  τ^δ'  Αγαμέμνων, 

διθρόνου  Διόθεν  καϊ  δισκηπτρον 

τιμής,  όχνρον  ζεύγος  Άτρειδάν, 
45        στόλον  Άργείων  χιλιοναντην 

τήσδ*  από  χώρας 

ήραν,  στρατιώτιν  άρωγην, 

μέγαν  εκ  θνμον  κλάζοντες  "Αρη 

τρόπον  αίγυπιών, 


AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


50  who,  in  solitary  grief  for  their  young,  wheel 
round  high  above  their  nests,  rowing  with  the 
oars  of  their  wings,  having  lost  the  labor  spent 
in  watching  the  nests  of  their  young.  But 
some  God  above,  Apollo,  Pan  or  Zeus,  hearing 
the  shrill  bird-cry  of  these  strangers,  sends  a 
late-avenging    Fury    against    the    transgressors. 

60  Thus  the  mighty  Zeus,  God  of  hospitality, 
sends  the  sons  of  Atreus  against  Alexander,  in 
vengeance  for  the  woman  of  many  suitors,  to 
impose  on  Greeks  and  Trojans  alike  struggles 
many  and  wearying  to  the  limbs,  where  the  knee 
is  pressed  in  the  dust  and  the  spear  is  shivered 
in  the  onset.  Things  are  where  they  are,  but 
they  are  coming  to  pass  according  to  fate ;  and 
no  man  by  secret  burnt-offerings  or  libations,  or 

70  by  tears,  will  soften  the  wrath  of  the  Gods  excited 
by  unacceptable  sacrifices.  But  we,  dishonored 
with  our  ancient  bodies,  left  behind  by  the  array 
which  then  set  forth,  remain  at  home,  supporting 
our  child-like  strength  upon  our  staves.  For 
when  the  youthful  marrow  that  rules  within  the 
breast  becomes  oldlike  and  the  God  of  war  is  no 
longer  at  his  post,  then   in    hoary   age,  now  in 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

5ο  οίτ   εκπατίοις  a\yeai  παίδων 

ύπατοι  λεγεων  στ ροφοδινοννται, 

πτερύγων  ερτμοϊσιν  ερεεσσόμενοι, 

δεμνιοτηρη 

πόνον  όρταλίγων  ολεσαντες- 

55  ύπατος  δ'  άΐων  η  τις  Απόλλων 

77  ΐίαν  η  Ζευς  οιωνόθροον 
γόον  οζνβόαν  τώνδε  μετοίκων 
νστερόποινον 
πέμπει  παραβασιν  Έριννν. 

6ο  οντω  δ'  Άτρεως  παΐδας  6  κρείσσων 

επ*  Άλεξάνδρω  πέμπει  ζενιος 
Ζευς  πολνάνορος  άμφΐ  γυναικός, 
πολλά  παλαίσματα  και  γνιοβαρη 
γόνατος  κονίαισιν  ερειδομενον 

65  διακναιομενης  τ   εν  προτελειοις 

κάμακος  θήσων  Δαναοΐσι 
Ύρωσι  υ   ομοίως,      εστί  ο   οπη  νυν 
εστί  •   τελείται  δ'  ες  το  πεπρωμενον  * 
ονθ*  νποκαίων  ονθ*  νπολείβων 

ηο  οϋτε  δακρύων  άπνρων  ίερων 

οργάς  άτενείς  παραθελζει. 
ημείς  δ'  άτίται  σαρκϊ  πάλαια, 
της  τότ  αρωγής  νπολειφθεντες 
μίμνομεν  ισχνν 

75  ισόπαιδα  νεμοντες  επί  σκηπτροις. 

οτε  γαρ  νεαρός  μυελός  στέρνων 
εντός  άνάσσων 
ίσόπρεσβνς,  *  Αρης  δ'  ουκ  ενι  χώρα, 


AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


the  sear  and  withered  leaf,  man  goes  his  way 
80  on  three  feet,  and,  no  better  than  a  child,  wan- 
ders a  vision  in  the  light  of  day.  But  thou 
daughter  of  Tyndareus,  Queen  Clytaemnestra, 
what  is  thy  need  ?  What  news  hast  thou  ?  Per- 
suaded by  what  message  dost  thou  kindle  these 
sacrifices  sent  to  all  these  altars  ?  And  the  shrines 
of  all  the  Gods  who  rule  the  city,  the  Gods 
above,  the  Gods  below,  the  Gods  in  heaven, 
90  and  the  Gods  of  the  market,  are  flaming  with 
offerings ;  and  now  here,  now  there,  high  as 
heaven  rises  the  flame  of  the  torch,  fed  with  the 
soft  deceitless  persuasions  of  pure  unguent,  the 
royal  oil  from  the  choicest  palace  stores.  Tell  us 
whatever  of  this  thou  canst  and  what  it  is  right 
to  tell,  and  become  a  healer  of  this  our  anxiety, 
100  which  at  one  moment  is  fraught  with  thoughts  of 
evil,  while  again  soothing  hope  comes  to  us  from 
thy  sacrifices  and  drives  off  insatiate  care,  the 
grief  that  is  devouring  our  soul 

I  am  empowered  to  tell  of  the  victory  of  aveng- 
ing men  that  was  foreboded  on  the  road, — for  per- 
suasion from  the  Gods  still  inspires  my  song,  and 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ς 

τόθ*  ύπεργηρως,  φυλλάδος  ήδη 
8ο       κατακαρφομενης,  τρίποδας  μεν  οδούς 

στείγει,  παιδο?  δ*  ovSev  άρτιων 

οναρ  ήμερόφαντον  άλαι^ει. 

συ  δε,  Τυνοάρεω 

θύγατερ,  βασίλεια  Κλυταιμήστρα, 
85       τ ί  χρέος ;      τί  νέον ;      τί  δ'  επαισθομένη, 

τίνος  αγγελίας 

πειθοι  περίπεμπτα  θνοσκεϊς  ; 

πάντων  δε  θέων  των  αστυνόμων, 

υπάτων,  χθονίων, 
9ο       των  τ   ουρανίων  των  τ  αγοραίων, 

βωμοί  δώροισι  φλέγονται  • 

άλλ^  δ'  άλλοθεν  ούρανομηκης 

\αμπάς  άνίσγει, 

φαρμασσομενη  χρίματος  αγνού 
95       μαλακαϊς  άδόλοισι  παρηγορίαις, 

πελάνω  μυγόθεν  βασιλείω. 

τούτων  \εζαις  ο  τι  και  δυνατόν 

καϊ  θέμις  αινεϊν, 

παιώζ^  τε  γενου  τήσδε  μερίμνης, 
ιοο     η  νυν  τότε  μεν  κακόφρων  τελεθει, 

τότε  δ'  εκ  θυσιών  άγανή  φανθεΐσ* 

ελπϊς  άμύνει  φροντίδ'  άπληστον, 

την  θυμοβόρον  φρένα  λύπην. 

κύριος  είμι  θροεΐν  οδιον  κράτος  αϊσιον  άνορων    Str. 
105      εκτελεων  —  ετι  γαρ  θεόθεν  καταπνείει 
πείθω  μολπάν  ■ 


ίο  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


my  age  still  gives  me  strength,  —  how  the  two- 
no    throned  might  of  the  Achaean s,  the  harmonious 
leaders   of   the  youth  of    Hellas,  the  fierce  bird 
sends  to  the  Trojan  land  with  spear  and  avenging 
hand ;    the  king  of  the  birds   appearing   to   the 
kings  of  the  ships,  —  himself  black,  with  another 
white-tailed,  —  appearing  near  the  roof-tree  on  the 
spear-hurling  hand,  in  all  conspicuous  seats,  feed- 
ing on  the  offspring  of  a  hare  pregnant  with  her 
120    brood,  stopped  in  her  last  course.     Sing  a  song 
.    of  woe,  a  song  of  woe;  but  may  the  good  prevail. 

And  the  noble  prophet  of  the  army  seeing  the 
two  warrior  sons  of  Atreus  unlike  in  their  tempers, 
recognized  the  martial  leaders  in  the  devourers  of 
the  hare.  And  thus  he  spake,  interpreting  the 
omen  :  "In  time  this  armament  shall  capture 
Priam's  city,  and  fate  shall  violently  destroy  all 
the  collected  possessions  of  her  towers,  the 
130  people's  abundant  wealth ;  only  let  no  wrath 
from  the  Gods  cast  a  gloom  upon  the  great  army 
now  encamped,  which  is  to  be  a  bit  for  the  mouth 
of  Troy,  and  strike  it  down  before  its  time.  For 
holy  Artemis  is  full  of  vengeance  against  the 
royal  house,  the  winged  hounds  of  her  father,  who 
are  devouring  the  poor  timorous  hare  with  all  her 
brood  before  she  gives  them  birth;  and  she 
loathes  the  eagles'  banquet.  Sing  a  song  of  woe, 
a  song  of  woe ;  but  may  the  good  prevail. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  1 1 

άλκάν  σύμφυτος  αίων — 

όπως  Αχαιών  δίθρονον  κράτος,  'Ελλάδος  ηβας 
ι  ίο      ξύμφρονα  ταγάν, 

πέμπει  συν  δορί  καΐ  χέρι  πράκτορι 

Θούριος  όρνις  Ύευκρίδ*  eV  aiav, 

οιωνών  βασιλεύς 

/3ασιλεί)(τι  νέων,  6  κελαινος, 
ιΐ5      ο  τ   εζόπιν  άργας, 

φανεντες  ΐκταρ  μελάθρων  χερος  εκ  δοριπάλτον 

παμπρεπτοις  εν  εδραισι, 

βοσκόμενοι  \ayivav  ερικυμάδα  φερματι  γε'νναν, 
ΐ2ο      βλαβεντα  λοίσθιων  δρόμων. 

αΐλινον  αϊλινον  είπε,  το  δ'  ευ  νικάτω. 

κεδνος  δε  στρατόμαντις  Ιδων  δυο  λτ^/χασι  οισσούϊ  Ant. 

Άτρειδας  μάχιμους  εδάη  λαγοδαίτας 

πομπούς  τ   αρχάς  • 
ΐ25      ούτω  δ'  είπε  τεράζων 

66  χρόνω  μεν  άγρεί  ΐίριάμου  πόλιν  άδε  κελευθος, 

πάντα  δε  πύργων 

κτήνη  προσθετά  δημιοπληθη 
130      ΜοΓρ'  άλαπά^ι  προς  το  βίαιον  • 

οίον  μη  τις   άγα   θεόθεν   κνεφάση   προτυπεν    στο- 
μιον  μέγα  Ύροιας 
ΐ35      στρατωθεν.      οίκω  γαρ  επίφθονος  * Αρτεμις  άγνα, 

πτανοισιν  κυσι  πατρός 

αύτότοκον  προ  λόχου  μογεράν  πτάκα  θυομενοισι  ■ 

στυγεί  δε  δεΐπνον  αιετών. 

αϊλινον  αϊλινον  είπε,  το  δ'  ευ  νικατω. 


12 


AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


"So  kindly  as  the  beautiful  Goddess  is  to  the 
140  tender  young  of  savage  lions,  and  delightful  as 
she  is  to  the  breast-loving  offspring  of  all  the 
beasts  that  roam  the  field,  she  is  begging  her 
father  to  fulfil  what  these  omens  signify,  the 
propitious  but  also  the  inauspicious  omens  of  the 
birds.  But  I  invoke  the  aid  of  Apollo,  the  heal- 
ing God,  that  she  may  cause  no  long  delays  to 
detain  the  ships  by  contrary  winds,  in  her  eager- 
150  ness  for  a  new  sacrifice,  a  lawless  one,  of  which  no 
man  can  partake,  a  kindred  worker  of  strife,  one 
that  fears  not  man  ;  for  there  abides,  —  terrible, 
ever  rising  afresh,  haunting  the  house,  deceitful, 
never  forgetting,  —  the  wrath  that  avenges  a 
slaughtered  child."  Such  things,  mingled  with 
great  good,  did  Calchas  proclaim  as  predicted  to 
the  royal  house  by  the  omens  seen  upon  the  road. 
In  harmony  with  these,  sing  a  song  of  woe,  a  song 
of  woe,  but  may  the  good  prevail. 

160  Zeus,  whoever  he  may  be,  if  it  pleases  him 
thus  to  be  called,  thus  I  invoke  him.  I  cannot 
divine,  when  I  weigh  everything  except  Zeus, 
whether  I  have  a  right  truly  to  cast  aside  this 
burden  of  grief  from  my  soul. 

He  who  of  old  was  mighty,  swelling  with  all- 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι3 

ΐ4°     τόσσον  περ  ενφρων  καλά  Epod. 

ορόσοισι  Χεπτοίς  μαΧερών  Χεόντω-, 

πάντων  τ   αγρονόμων  φιΚομάστοις 

θηρών  όβρικάΧοισι  τερπνά, 

τούτων  αιτεί  ζύμβοΧα  κράναι, 
145      οεζια  μεν,  κατάμομφα  δε  φάσματα  στρουθών. 

ιηιον  δε  καΧεω  Παιάνα, 

μη  τινας  άντιπνόονς 

Ααναοις  χρονιάς  εχενήιοας 
150      άπλοιας  τενζη, 

σπενοομενα  θνσίαν  ετεραν  άνομόν  τιν\  άοαιτον, 

νεικεων  τεκτονα  σνμφντον, 

ου  οεισηνορα.      μίμνει  γαρ  φοβερά  παΧίνορτος 
155      οικονόμος  δόλια  μνάμων  μηνις  τεκνόποινος." 

τοιάδε  Κάλχας  ζυν  μεγάλοις  άγαθοϊς  άπεκΧαγζεν 

μόρσιμ   απ'  ορνίθων  όδίων  οϊκοις  βασιΧείοις. 

τοις  δ*  ομόφωνον 

αϊΧινον  αιΧινον  είπε,  το  δ'  ευ  νικάτω. 

ι6ο     Ζευς,  όστις  ποτ   εστίν,  ει  τόο*  αν-  Str.  ι 

τω  φίΧον  κεκΧημενω, 

τοντό  vlv  προσεννεπω. 

ουκ  εχω  προσεικάσαι 

πάντ   επισταθμώ  μένος 
165      πλην  Διός,  ει  τόδ'  εμάς  άπο  φροντίοος  άχθος 

χρη  βαΧεΐν  ετητύμως. 

ούο*  όστις  πάροιθεν  ην  μέγας,  Ant.  ι 


14  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


170  defiant  courage,  shall  not  even  be  mentioned ; 
he  is  among  the  things  that  were.  And  he  who 
followed  next  has  found  his  champion  and  is 
gone.  But  he  who  zealously  shouts  the  name  of 
Zeus  in  songs  of  victory  shall  gain  the  whole  of 
wisdom,  — 

Zeus,  who  set  mortals  on  the  road  to  wisdom 
by  enacting  as  a  fixed  law  that  knowledge 
cometh  by  suffering.    And  o'er  the  heart  in  sleep 

180  trickle  drops  of  torturing  recollection  of  woe, 
and  thus  does  discretion  come  to  men  even 
against  their  will.  And  this  is  surely  a  boon  of 
the  Gods,  who  sit  in  might  upon  their  awful 
thrones. 

And  then  the  elder  leader  of  the  Achaean 
ships,  having  no  blame  for  any  prophet,  yielding 
to  the  fortunes  which  smote  him,  when  the 
Achaean  host  was  pressed  by  delay  which  ex- 
hausted their  stores,  while  they  were  held  fast 

190    beyond  Chalcis  in  the  refluent  region  of  Aulis  ; 

And  when  the  blasts  that  blow  from  the  Stry- 
mon,  causing  evil  delay,  hungry  blasts,  which 
keep  men  at  anchor  to  their  hurt,  which  drive 
mortals  astray,  unsparing  of  both  ships  and 
cables,  ever  redoubling  the  time  of  their  delay, 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  15 

παμμάχω  θράσει  βρύων, 
170      ούδε  Χέζεται  πριν  ων  • 

Λ         Ο»      V  »      VI 

ο?  ο   επειτ   εφυ,  τρια- 
κτηρος  οϊχεται  τυχών. 
Σηνα  οε  τις  προφρόνως  επινίκια  κλάζων 
ΐ75      τευ^εται  φρένων  το  πάν  • 

rol•'  φρονείν  βροτους  όδώ-  Str.  2 

σαντα,  τον  πάθει  μάθος 
θεντα  κυρίως  εχειν. 
σταςει  ο   εν  υ  υπνω  προ  καροιας 
ι8ο     μνησιπημων  πόνος  ■    και  παρ'  ακοντας  ήλθε  σω- 
φροι>εΓϊ\ 
οαιμόνων  δε  που  χάρις  βιαίως 
σέλμα  σεμνον  ήμένων. 

185      και  70$'  ηγεμων  6  πρέ-  Ant.  2 

σ/3υς  ρεών  Άχαιϊκων, 

μάντιν  οϋτ ινα  ψεγων, 

εμπαίοις  τύχαισι  συμπνέων, 

ευτ   άπλοια,  κεναγγει  βαρύνοντ   Άχαιικός  λεώς, 
ΐ9°      Χαλκίδος  πέραν  έχων  παλιρρό- 

χθοις  εν  Αυλίδος  τόποις  • 

π^οαι  δ'  άπο  Στρυμόνος  μολουσαι  Str.  3 

κακόσχολοι,  ζ^στιδες,  ούσορμοι, 
βροτων  αλαι, 
ΐ95      *>εώι>  τε  και  πεισμάτων  άφειοεΐς, 
παλιμμηκη  χρόνον  Ti#eicrai 


1 6  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 


were  wasting  the  flower  of  the  Argives ;  and 
when  the  prophet  proclaimed  in  the  name  of 
Artemis  another  remedy  for  the  bitter  storm,  but 
200  more  terrible  still,  so  that  the  sons  of  Atreus 
smote  the  ground  with  their  staves  and  could  not 
restrain  their  tears, 

Then  the  elder  king  thus  spake  and  said : 
"  Hard  is  the  fate  not  to  obey ;  but  hard  is  it  if 
I  must  slay  my  child,  the  ornament  of  my  house, 

210  polluting  with  streams  of  virgin  blood  a  father's 
hands  before  the  altar.  Which  of  these  is  without 
its  terrors  ?  How  can  I  desert  my  fleet  and  lose 
my  allies  ?  For  that  they  in  their  temper  should 
intemperately  call  for  a  sacrifice  to  still  the  wind 
and  for  the  virgin's  blood  is  right;  and  may  it  be 
for  the  best." 

And  when  he  had  bowed  his  neck  to  neces- 
sity's yoke,  breathing  now  an  impious  change  of 

220  heart,  unblessed  and  unholy,  then  he  turned  to 
contemplate  the  all-daring  deed.  For  base-coun- 
selling wretched  infatuation,  the  beginning  of 
woe,  emboldens  mortals.  And  he  dared  to  become 
the  sacrificer  of  his  daughter,  to  aid  the  war 
waged  to  avenge  a  woman,  and  as  an  offering  of 
first-fruits  for  the  ships. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕχλΙΝΩΝ  ιη 

τρίβω  κατεζαινον  άνθος  Άργείων, 
επεί  δε  καϊ  πικρού 
γείματος  άλλο  μηγαρ 
2οο      βριθύτερον  πρόμοισιν 

μάντις  εκλαγζεν  προφερων    Αρτεμιν,  ώστε  γθόνα 

βάκ- 
τροις    επικρούσαντας     Ατρείδας    δάκρυ    μη    κατα- 

σγείν  ■ 

2θ5      άναζ  δ'  6  πρεσβυς  τότ  είπε  φωνών  •  Ant.  3 

"  βαρεία  μεν  κηρ  το  μη  ττιθεσθαι, 

βαρεία  δ',  ει 

τεκνον  δαίζω,  δόμων  αγαλ/χα, 

μι,αίνων  παρθενοσφαγοισι 
2ΐο      ρείθροις  πατρώους  χφας  πελας  βωμού. 

τί  τωνδ*  άνευ  κακών  ; 

πως  Χυπόναυς  γενωμαί 

ξυμμαχίας  άμαρτών  ; 
2ΐ5      παυσ άνεμου  yap  θυσίας  παρθενίου  θ*  αίματος  ορ- 
γά περιόργως  επιθυμείν  θέμις,      ευ  γαρ  ειη. 

επεί  δ'  άνάγκας  εδυ  Χεπαονον  Str.  4 

φρενός  πνέων  δυσσεβή  τροπαιαν 
22ο      άναγνον,  άνίερον,  τόθεν 

το  παντότολμον  φρονειν  μετεγνω. 

βροτους  θρασύνει  γαρ  αίσχρόμητίς 

τάΧαινα  παρακοπα  πρωτοπημων. 

ετλα  δ'  ουν  θυτηρ  γενε- 
225      σθαυ  θυγατρός,  γυναικοποίνων  πολέμων  αρωγαν 

καϊ  προτε\εια  ναών. 

AGAMEMNON —  2 


1 8  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


230  And  the  war-loving  nobles  made  of  no  account 
her  tears  and  her  calling  upon  her  father's 
name  and  her  virgin  age ;  and  the  father,  after  a 
prayer,  bade  the  servants  with  all  their  courage 
to  raise  her,  like  a  kid,  above  the  altar,  with  neck 
inclined,  enveloped  in  her  falling  robes,  and,  as  a 
guard  upon  her  beautiful  mouth,  to  restrain  her 
voice  that  might  utter  a  curse  upon  the  house, 

by  the  strength  and  silencing  force  of   gags. 
And  as  she  let  fall  to  the  ground  the  saffron 

240  dye,  she  smote  each  of  her  sacrificers  with 
a  piteous  glance  from  the  eye ;  and  she  lay 
beautiful  as  in  a  picture,  wishing  to  speak,  for 
oft  in  her  father's  hospitable  halls  she  had  sung, 
and  a  pure  virgin  with  her  chaste  voice  she  had 
lovingly  honored  her  dear  father's  thrice-blessed 
joyous  life. 

What  followed  I  neither  saw,  nor  do  I  tell  it ; 
but  the  divinations  of  Calchas  never  fail  in  ful- 

250  filment.  Justice  brings  knowledge  within  the 
reach  of  those  who  have  suffered ;  but  as  to  the 
future,  you  can  hear  it  when  it  comes ;  before 
that  bid  it  farewell ;  it  is  as  well  as  to  lament  it 
beforehand,  for  it  will  come  precisely  in  accord- 
ance   with    those    divinations.       But    may    good 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι9 

λιτάς  δε  καΐ  κλήδονας  πατρώους  Ant.  4 

παρ'  ού$εν  αιώνα  παρθένειόν  τ 
230      έθεντο  φιλόμαχοι  βραβης. 

φράσεν  ο   άόζοις  πατήρ  μετ   ενγαν 

ΰίκαν  γιμαίρας  νπερθε  βωμον 

πεπλοισι  περιπετη  παντι  θνμω 

προνωπη  λαβείν  άερ- 
235      hrjv,  στόματος  τε  καλλιπρωρον  φνλακαν  κατασχέίν 

φθόγγον  άραΐον  οικοις 

βία  χαλινών  τ'  avavhco  μένει.  Str.  5 

κρόκου  βαφάς  δ'  ες  πέ'οον  γέονσα 
240      έβαλλ     εκαστον   θντηρων   απ*   όμματος   βέλει    φί- 
λο ι  κτ  ω, 

πρέπουσα  θ*  ως  εν  γραφαΐς,  προσεννέπειν 

θέλονσ\  έπει  πολλάκις 

πατρός  κατ   άνορωνας  εύτραπεζονς 
245      εμελ-φεν,  α,γνα  δ'  άτανρωτος  αύδα  πατρός 

φίλου  τριτόσπονοον  ενποτμον 

αιώ^α  φιλως  ετίμα. 

τα  δ*  ένθεν  οντ   εΐοον  οντ   εννεπω  •  Ant.  5 

τέγναι  δε  Κάλχαντος  ουκ  άκραντοι. 
250     Αί,κα   δε  τοις  μεν  παθουσιν  μαθεϊν  έπιρ  ρέπει  •   το 
μέλλον  ο* 

επέί  γένοιτ'  αν  κλύοις  ■    προ  χαιρετώ  • 

ίσον  δε  τω  προστένειν  ■ 

τορον  yap  ηζει  σννορθον  ανταίς. 
255      πέλοιτο  δ*  ονν  ταπί  τοντοισιν  ενπραζις,  ως 


2θ  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

fortune  follow  these  events,  for  thus  prays  this 
nearest  and  only  guard  now  left  to  the  Apian 
land. 

I  have  come,  Clytaemnestra,  to  do  homage 
to  thy  authority ;  for  it  is  right  to  honor  the  wife 
of  a  man  in  power  when  the  husband's  throne  is 
260  left  vacant.  But  I  would  gladly  hear  whether 
thou  hast  heard  anything  new,  or  whether,  in  lack 
of  news,  thou  art  sacrificing  through  hope  of  good 
tidings ;  nor  will  I  grudge  it  thee  if  thou  art 
silent. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

With  good  tidings,  as  the  proverb  says,  may  the 
Morn  appear  from  her  mother  Night ;  and  you 
shall  learn  a  joy  which  is  beyond  all  hope  to  hear. 
The  Argives  have  captured  the  city  of  Priam. 

CHORUS     LEADER 

What  sayest  thou  ?  Thy  word  has  escaped  me 
from  my  distrust. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Troy  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Greeks.  Do  I 
speak  plainly  ? 

CHORUS     LEADER 
270        Joy  creeps  over  me  and  calls  forth  my  tears. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Yes,  your  eye  declares  that  your  thoughts  are 
kind. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  2ΐ 

θέλει  τόδ'  άγχιστον  Άπιας 
ycuas  μονόφρονρον  ερκος. 

ηκω  σεβιζων  σον,  Κλνταιμηστρα,  κράτος  ' 
οίκη  γάρ  εστί  φωτός  αρχηγού  τίειν 
260      γνναΐκ    ερημωθεντος  αρσενος  θρό'ον. 
σν  δ'  ει  τι  κεδνον  είτε  μη  πεπνσμενη 
εναγγελοισιν  εΧπίσιν  θνηπολεϊς, 
κΚνοιμ   αν  ενφρων  •    ουδέ  σιγώση  φθόνος. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 

ενάγγελος  μεν,  ωσπερ  η  παροιμία, 
265      εως  γένοιτο  μητρός  εύφρόνης  πάρα. 

πενσει  δε  χάρμα  μείζον  ελπίδος  κλνειν  ■ 
ΤΙριάμον  γάρ  ηρηκασιν  Άργεΐοι  πόλιν. 

ΧΟΡΟ^ 
πώς  φης  ;      πεφενγε  τονπος  €ζ  απιστίας. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
Ύροίαν   Αχαιών  ούσαν  ■    ^  τορως  Χεγω  ; 

XOPOS 
270      χαρά  μ'  νφερπει  οάκρνον  εκκαλονμενη. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
εν  γάρ  φρονονντος  όμμα  σον  κατηγορεί. 


22  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS      LEADER 

But  how  ?      Hast  thou  any  credible  proof  of 
this  ? 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Of  course  I  have,  unless  a  God  has  deceived  me. 

CHORUS     LEADER 

Dost  thou  honor  as  credible  visions  which  come 
to  thee  in  dreams  ? 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

I    would  not    base    my   judgment    on  a  mind 
asleep. 

CHORUS     LEADER 

Well,  has  any  unfledged  report  elated  thee  ? 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 
You  scorn  my  thoughts  as  if  I  were  a  mere  girl. 

CHORUS     LEADER 
Well,  how  long  then  has  the  city  been  captured  ? 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Within  the  night  which  has  just  given  birth  to 
this  day,  I  tell  you. 

CHORUS     LEADER 

280        And  what  messenger,  pray,  could  come  with 
such  speed  as  this? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  23 

XOPOS 
τί  γαρ  ;   το  ττιστόν  εστί  τωνΰε  σοι  τέκμαρ  ; 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 
εστίν  '   τί  δ'  ουχί  ;      μη  δολώσαντος  θεού. 

XOPOS 
πότερα  δ'  ονείρων  φάσματ  ενπιθή  σέβεις  ; 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 
275      ον  δόξαν  αν  λάβοιμι  βριζονσης  φρενός. 

XOPOS 
αλλ'  η  σ   επίανεν  τις  άπτερος  φάτις  ; 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 
παιδός  νέας  ως  κάρτ  εμωμησω  φρενας. 

XOPOS 
ποίον  χρόνου  δε  και  πεπόρθηται  πόλις  ; 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ2ΕΤΡΑ 
της  νυν  τεκούσης  φως  τοδ'  ενφρόνης  λέγω. 

XOPOS 
28ο      καϊ  τίς  τοδ'  εξίκοιτ   αν  άγγελλων  τάχος  ; 


24  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 


CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Hephaestus,  sending  the  gleaming  signal  from 
Ida.  And  beacon  sent  beacon  on,  sped  by  the 
courier  flame.  Ida  sent  it  to  the  Hermaean  crag 
of  Lemnos ;  and  thirdly  the  height  of  Athos, 
sacred  to  Zeus,  received  the  great  flame  from 
the  island.  Then  leaping  high,  so  as  to  skim 
the  sea,  the  mighty  torch,  proceeding  on  its 
joyous  way,  bright  as  a  sun,  announced  the 
golden-gleaming  light  of  the  pine  to  the  watch- 

290  man  on  Macistus.  But  he,  not  delaying,  nor 
foolishly  overcome  by  sleep,  passed  on  the  mes- 
senger's duty ;  and  the  light  of  the  torch  went 
far  on  to  the  streams  of  the  Euripus,  and  gave 
the  signal  to  the  guards  of  Messapium.  And 
they  in  turn  lighted  their  fire  and  sped  the  mes- 
sage on,  kindling  a  heap  of  gray  heath.  And  the 
mighty  torch,  not  yet  dimmed,  leaped  over  the 
plain  of  the  Asopus,  like  the  gleaming  moon, 
to  the  crags    of    Cithaeron,    and  there  roused  a 

300  new  succession  of  the  courier  flame.  And  there 
the  guard  did  not  reject  the  far-sent  light,  and 
sent  the  courier  flame  mounting  to  heaven. 
Then  the  light  darted  over  Lake  Gorgopis,  and 
coming  to  Mt.  Aegiplanctus,  exhorted  the  suc- 
cession of  the  fires  not  to  fail.  And  they  sent 
on  a  great  beard  of  fire,  kindling  it  with  un- 
stinted might,  so  that  it  flamed  onward  and 
even  overleaped  the  cliff  which  looks  down 
upon   the  Saronic    Gulf.      Then   it     darted   on, 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  25 


ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 


^Ηφαιστος  νΐδΐ79  λαμπρον  εκπεμπων  σέλας, 
φρυκτος  δε  φρυκτον  Sevp*  απ   άγγάρον  πυρός 
επεμπεν  ■  νΐδΐ7  μεν  προς  'Έ*ρμαΐον  λεπας 
Αημνου  •   μεγαν  δε  πανόν  εκ  νήσου  τρίτον 

285      Άθωον  αιπος  Ζηνός  ίςζοεζατο  * 

ύπερτελης  τε,  πόντον  ώστε  νωτίσαι, 
Ιο"χυς  πορευτου  λαμπάδος  προς  ήδονήν 
πεύκης  το  χρυσοφεγγες,  ως  τις  ήλιος, 
σέλα?  παρηγγάρευσε  Μακίστου  σκοπαίς  • 

290      6  ο*  ούτι  μέλλων  ούδ'  άφρασμόνως  υπνω 
νικωμενος  παρηκεν  αγγέλου  μέρος  • 
εκάς  δε  φρυκτου  φως  επ'  Ευρίπου  ροάς 
Μεσσαπίου  φύλαζι  σημαίνει  μολόν. 
ol  δ'  άντελαμφαν  κα\  παρήγγειλαν  πρόσω 

295      γραίας  ερείκης  θωμον  άφαντες  πυρί. 

σθενουσα  λαμπάς  δ'  ούδεπω  μαυρουμενη, 
ύπερθορουσα  πεδίον  ' Ασωπού,  δίκην 
φαιδράς  σελήνης,  προς  Κιθαιρώνος  λεπας 
ηγειρεν  άλλην  εκοοχήν  πομπού  πυρός. 

3οο      φάος  δε  τηλεπομπον  ουκ  ηναίνετο 

φρουρά,  προσαιθ ρίζουσα  πόμπιμον  φλόγα  • 
λίμνην  δ*  υπέρ  Τοργώπιν  εσκηφεν  φάος  • 
όρος  τ   επ'  Αιγίπλαγκτον  εζικνουμενον 
ωτρυνε  θεσμόν  μη  γαρίζεσθαι  πυρός. 

3°5  πεμπουσι  δ'  άνδαίοντες  αφθονώ  μένει 
φλογός  μεγαν  πώγωνα,  και  Σαρωνικού 
πορθμού  κάτοπτον  πρών   ύπερβάλλειν  πρόσω 


26  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


and  then  it  came  to  Mt.  Arachnaeum,  our  neigh- 
boring watch.  And  then  it  strikes  upon  this  roof 
310  of  the  Atreidae,  this  flame,  true  child  of  the  fire 
kindled  on  Ida.  Such  are  the  ready  stations  of 
the  torch-bearers,  filled  one  in  succession  from 
another;  and  the  first  and  the  last  runners  are 
both  victors.  Such  proof  and  such  token  I  give 
to  you,  my  husband  having  sent  me  the  message 
from  Troy. 

CHORUS     LEADER 

Hereafter,  queen,  I  will  pay  my  devotions  to 
the  Gods;  but  now  I  would  fain  once  more 
hear  and  wonder  at  thy  story  as  thou  dost 
tell  it. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

320  The  Achaeans  hold  Troy  this  very  day.  I 
think  that  an  unmixed  cry  is  to  be  heard  in  the 
city.  If  you  mixed  vinegar  and  oil  in  the  same 
vessel,  you  would  say  that  they  separated  in  no 
friendly  way.  So  there  may  be  heard  distinct 
the  voices  of  the  captured  and  the  captors,  each 
for  his  own  fortune.  The  Trojans,  fallen  upon 
the  bodies  of  their  brethren  and  their  kinsfolk, 
children  on  the  bodies  of  old  men,  from  necks 
no  longer  free  bewail  the  fate  of  their  dearest. 
On    the    other   hand,    the    night-wandering    toil 

33°  after  the  battle  ranges  the  Greeks  hungry  at 
breakfast    on  what   the    city   affords,   according 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  27 

φλεγουσαν  •    ειτ   εσκηψεν,  ειτ   άφίκετο 
Άραχναΐον  αιπος,  άστυγείτονας  σκοπάς  • 

3ΐο     κάπειτ   Ατρειδών  ες  τόδε  σκήπτει  στεγος 
φάος  τόδ'  ουκ  άπαππον   Ιδαίον  πυρός, 
τοιοίδ*  έτοιμοι  λαμπαδηφόρων  νόμοι, 
άλλο?  παρ   άλλου  διαδοχαις  πληρούμενοι  • 
ι>ικα  δ'  ό  πρώτος  καϊ  τελευταίος  δραμών. 

315      τεκμαρ  τοιούτο  σύμβολόν  τε  σοι  λέγω 
ανδρός  παραγγείλαντος  εκ  Ύροίας  εμοί. 

XOPOS 

θεοΐς  μεν  αδ^ις,  ω  γνναι,  προσεύζομαι. 
λόγους  δ'  άκουσαι  τούσδε  κάποθαυμάσαι 
διανεκώς  θελοιμ   αν,  ως  λέγεις,  πάλιν. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

32ο      Ύροίαν  Αραιοί  τηδ*  εχουσ'  εν  ήμερα, 
οϊμαι  βοήν  αμεικτον  εν  πόλει  πρεπειν. 
όζος  τ   άλειφα  τ   εγγεας  ταυτω  κυτει 
διγοστατουντ   αν  ου  φίλως  προσεννεποις. 
/cat  τών  άλόντων  καϊ  κρατησάντων  διχα 

325      φθογγάς  άκούειν  εστί  συμφοράς  διπλής, 
οι  μεν  γαρ  άμφϊ  σώ/ιασι^  πεπτωκοτες 
ανδρών  κασιγνήτων  τε  και  φυταλμίων  — 
παίδες  γερόντων  —  ούκετ   εζ  ελευθέρου 
δερης  άποιμώζουσι  φιλτάτων  μόρον  ■ 

33°     τους  δ'  αυτέ  νυκτίπλαγκτος  εκ  μάχης  πόνος 
νήστεις  προς  άρίστοισιν  ων  εγει  πόλις 


28  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

to  no  fixed  rule  and  order  ;  but  as  each  one  has 
drawn  fortune's  lot,  they  dwell  now  in  the  captive 
Trojan  houses,  free  from  the  frosts  and  dews  of 
the  open  air,  for  the  poor  fellows  can  now 
sleep  the  whole  night  without  guarding.  But  if 
they  pay  due  reverence  to  the  Gods  which  hold 
the  city,  those  of  the   conquered   land,  and  the 

340  shrines  of  the  Gods,  they  cannot,  after  capturing 
the  town,  again  be  captured  in  their  turn.  Only 
I  pray  that  no  desire  may  prematurely  fall  upon 
the  host  to  ravage  what  they  should  not,  tempted 
by  gain ;  for  to  secure  a  safe  return  home  they 
have  to  bend  their  way  back  through  the  other 
arm  of  the  double  race-course.  But,  even  if  the 
army  should  arrive  here  without  having  offended 
the  Gods,  the  suffering  of  the  perished  may 
still  prove  wakeful,  even  if  no  new  calamity 
befall  them. 

This  is  what  you  can  hear  from  me,  a  woman  ; 
and  may  the  good  prevail,  so  that  we  may  see 
it  in  no  doubtful  light.  For  many  are  the  bless- 
ings of  which  I  have  promised  myself  the  enjoy- 

350    ment. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Queen,  thou  speakest  wisely,  like  a  prudent 
man.  But  having  heard  thy  trusty  proofs,  I  am 
preparing  to  pay  due  thanks  to  the  Gods ;  for 
a  blessing  not  unworthy  of  our  toils  has  been 
wrought. 

Ο  king  Zeus,  and  friendly  night  who  hast  put 
us  in  possession  of  mighty  honors,  who  didst 
throw   over   the   towers  of  Troy  a  close   net,  so 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

τάσσει,  προς  ούδεν  εν  μέρει  τεκμηριον  • 
αλλ*  ως  έκαστος  έσπασεν  τύχης  πάλον, 
εν  αίχμαλώτοις  Τρωικοί*;  οικημασιν 

335      ναίονσιν  ηδη,  των  υπαιθρίων  πάγων 

δρόσων  τ  άπαλλαγέντες,  ως  δυσδαίμονες 
άφύλακτον  εύδήσουσι  πάσαν  εύφρόνην. 
el  δ'  ευ  σέβουσι  τους  πολισσούχους  θεούς, 
τους  της  άλούσης  γης,  θέων  θ'  ιδρύματα, 

34°      ου  τάν  ελόντες  αύ^ις  άνθαλοίεν  αν. 

έρως  δε  μη  τις  πρότερον  εμπίπτη  στρατω 
πορθειν  α  μη  χρη,  κερδεσιν  νικωμένους. 
δει  γαρ  προς  οίκους  νόστιμου  σωτηρίας 
κάμψαι  διαύλου  θάτερον  κωλον  πάλιν  • 

345      θεοϊς  δ'  άναμπλάκητος  ει  μόλοι  στρατός, 
εγρηγορος  το  πημα  των  όλωλοτων 
γενοιτ   αν,  ει  πρόσπαια  μη  τύχοι  κακά. 
τοιαύτα  τοι  γυναικός  εξ  εμού  κλύεις  • 
το  δ'  ευ  κρατοίη,  μη  διχορρόπως  ίδεΖν  • 

35°     πολλών  γαρ  εσθλων  την  όνησιν  ειλόμην. 

XOPOS 

γυναι9  κατ   άνδρα  σώφρον*  εύφρόνως  λέγεις, 
έγω  δ'  άκουσας  πιστά  σου  τεκμήρια 
θεούς  π ροσ ειπείν  ευ  παρασκευάζομαι, 
χάρις  γαρ  ουκ  άτιμος  εϊργασται  πόνων, 

355      ω  Ζεύ  ^ασιλβυ  και  νύζ  φιλία 
μεγάλων  κόσμων  κτεατειρα, 
ητ   επί  Τροίας  πύργοις  έβαλες 


29 


30  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


that  neither  full-grown  nor  young  could  escape 
360  the  great  slavery-net  of  all-conquering  Ate.  I 
reverence  mighty  Zeus,  God  of  hospitality,  who 
has  wrought  this,  who  of  old  had  his  bow  bent 
against  Alexander,  that  his  dart  might  neither 
fall  short  of  the  mark,  nor  fly  high  above  the 
stars. 

It  is  a  blow  from  Zeus  they  have  to  tell  of ; 
this  we  may  trace  out.  He  (Paris)  fared  as  he 
(Zeus)  willed.  There  was  one  who  denied  that 
370  the  Gods  deign  to  care  for  mortals  by  whom 
the  honor  of  things  sacred  is  trampled  under 
foot ;  but  he  was  no  pious  man.  The  truth 
has  been  shown  to  the  posterity  of  insufferable 
men,  who  breathe  the  spirit  of  war  more  than  is 
just,  whose  houses  overflow  with  wealth  beyond 
what  is  best.  But  may  my  lot  be  free  from  woe, 
380  and  yet  such  as  to  content  one  who  has  a  fair 
share  of  wisdom.  For  there  is  no  protection  in 
wealth  to  hide  a  man  who  has  once  in  his  inso- 
lence kicked  against  the  great  altar  of  Justice. 

Him     wretched     persuasion     drives     on,    the 
fore-counselling  unbearable  child  of  Ate.     And 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  31 

στεγανον  δίκτνον,  ώς  μήτε  μεγαν 

μήτ   ονν  νεαρών  τιν   νπερτελεσαι 
360     μέγα  δουλείας 

γάγγαμον  ατής  παναλώτον. 

Δια  tol  ζενιον  μεγαν  αίδονμαι 

τον  τάδε  πράξαντ,  επ   Άλεξάνδρω 

τείνοντα  πάλαι  τόξον,  όπως  αν 
365      μήτε  προ  καιρόν  μήθ*  νπερ  άστρων 

βέλος  ήλίθιον  σκήψειεν. 

Διός  πλαγάν  εχονσιν  ειπείν,  Str.  ι 

πάρεστι  τοντό  γ  Ιζιχνενο~αι. 

επραζεν  ως  εκρανεν.      ουκ  εφα  τις 
37°      θεούς  βροτων  άζιονσθαι  μελειν 

όσους  άθικτων  χάρις 

πατοΐθ*  '   6  δ'  ονκ  ευσεβής. 

πεφανται  δ*  εκγόνοις 
375      άτολμήτων "  Αρη 

πνεόντων  μείζον  η  δικαίως, 

φλεόντων  δωμάτων  νπερφεν 

νπερ    το   βελτιστον.      έστω   δ'   άπήμαντον,  ώστε 
κάπαρκεΐν 
380      ev  πραπίδων  λαγρντα. 

ον  γαρ  εστίν  έπαλες 

πλοντον  προς  κόρον  άνδρί 

λακτίσαντι  μεγαν  Αίκας  βωμον  εις  άφάνειαν. 

3^5      βιάται  δ'  ά  τάλαινα  πειθώ,  Ant.  ι 

προβονλόπαις  άφερτος  άτας. 


32  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


all  help  is  vain.  The  mischief  is  not  concealed, 
but    shines,  a   balefully   gleaming    light.       And 

39°  like  base  metal,  by  rubbing  and  by  striking  he 
becomes  blackened  when  put  to  the  test;  for  he 
is  like  the  boy  chasing  a  bird  in  the  air,  and 
he  brings  unbearable  evil  to  his  state.  No  one 
of  the  Gods  listens  to  his  prayers ;  but  they 
destroy  the  unjust  man  who  has  dealt  with 
deeds  like  these.       So  Paris,  when  he  came  to 

400  the  house  of  the  Atreidae,  disgraced  the  hospi- 
table board  by  the  rapine  of  the  queen. 

And  leaving  to  her  citizens  the  din  of  shields 
and  spears  and  naval  armaments,  and  bearing 
destruction  as  her  dowry  to  Ilion,  she  sped  nimbly 
through  the  gates,  daring  what  none  should  dare. 
And  the  prophets  of  the  house  uttered  many 
lamentations,  thus  speaking  :  "  Woe!  Woe  for  the 

410  palace  and  the  nobles!  woe  for  the  nuptial  couch 
and  the  traces  of  a  wife's  affection! 

*ft  t(c  'I*  t|c  i(c  *F 

And  in  his  longing  for  her  who  is  beyond  the  sea 
a  phantom  will  seem  to  be  queen  of  his  palace. 
And  even  the  grace  of  comely  statues  is  odious 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  33 

άκος  δε  παν  μάταιον.      ουκ  εκρύφθη, 

πρέπει,  δε,  φως  αινολαμπες,  σίνος  • 
39°      κάκου  δε  χαλκοί)  τρόπον 

τρίβω  re  και  προσβολαίς 

μελαμπαγης  πελει 

δικαιωθείς,  επει 

διώκει  παις  ποτανον  όρνιν, 
395      ιτόλα  πρόστριμμ   άφερτον  έρθεις, 

λιταν  δ*  άκοΰει  μεν  οΰτις  θεών  •   τον  δ'  επίστροφον 
τώνδε 

φώτ   άδικον  καθαιρεί. 

οΐος  καλ  Παρ  19  ελθών 
4°c      is  δόμον  τον  Άτρειδάν 

τ\σγυνε  ζενίαν  τράπεζαν  κλοπαΐσι  γυναικός. 

λυπούσα  δ'  άστοισιν  άσπίστορας  Str.  2 

405      κλόνους  λογγίμους  τε  και  ναυβάτας  οπλισμούς, 

άγουσα  τ   άντίφερνον   Ιλίω  φθοραν 

βεβακεν  ρίμφα  δια  πυλαν 

ατλατα  τλασα  •    πολλά  δ*  εστενον 

τότ   εννεποντες  δόμων  προφηται  • 
4χο      ιώ  ιώ  δώμα  δώμα  καΐ  πρόμοι, 

ιώ  λεγος  και  στίβοι  φιλάνορες. 

t  πάρεστι  σιγάς  άτιμος  άλοίδορος 

αοιστος  αψεμενων  ιοειν.  Τ 

πόθω  δ'  υπερπόντιας 
4*5      φάσμα  δόζει  δόμων  άνάσσειν. 

εύμόρφων  δε  κολοσσών 

εγθεται  χάρις  άνδρί' 

AGAMEMNON  —  3 


34  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


to  the  man,  for  in  the  want  of  the  living  eyes  all 
love  has  vanished. 

420  And  there  come  to  him  sad  visions  in  dreams, 
bringing  empty  pleasure;  for  empty  it  is  when 
one  believes  that  he  sees  a  noble  prize,  —  and 
slipping  through  his  hands  the  vision  is  gone  no 
sooner  than  it  came,  on  wings  that  attend  the 
paths  of  sleep." 

The  woes  seen  at  home  by  the  hearthstone  are 
these,  and  still  more  terrible  than  these;  and 
everywhere  for  those  who  departed  from  the  land 

430  of  Hellas  sorrow  that  wears  the  heart  is  seen  in 
the  homes  of  each.  There  are  many  things 
indeed  that  touch  the  heart;  for  everyone  knows 
whom  he  sent  forth,  but,  instead  of  living  men, 
urns  and  ashes  are  coming  to  each  one's  house. 
And  Ares,  the  broker  who  deals  in  human 
bodies,  and  holds  the  scales  in  the  contest  of  the 
spear,  is  sending  home  from  Troy  to  the  friends 

440  the  sad  dust  burnt  in  the  fire,  wept  with  tears, 
loading  the  urns  with  well-packed  ashes  in  the 
place  of  men.  And  they  lament,  speaking  well 
of  one  man  as  skilled  in  battle,  and  of  another  as 
having  fallen  nobly  in  a  conflict  for  another's  wife. 
But  there  are  other  things  which  many  a  one  is 
muttering  silently,  and  grief  mixed  with  hatred 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  35 

ομμάτων  δ'  εν  άχΎ]νίαις 
ερρει  πάσ  Άφροοίτα, 

42ο     ονειρόφαντοι  δε  πενθήμονες  Ant.  2 

πάρεισιν  δόκαι  φερουσαι  χάριν  ματαίαν. 

μάταν  yap,  ευτ   αν  εσθλά  τις  δοκών  οράν — 

παραλλάξασα  δια  γέρων 
425      βεβακεν  οψις  ού  μεθύστερον 

πτεροίς  οπαδοί?  ύπνου  κελεύθοις. 

τα  μεν  κατ    οίκους  εφ*  εστίας  άχη 

τάδ'  εστί  καΐ  τωνδ*  ύπερβατώτερα. 

το  παν  ο'  αφ*  'Ελλάδος  γάς  συνορμενοις 
43°      πενθεια  τλησικάρδιος 

δόμων  εκάστου  πρέπει. 

πολλά  γούν  θίγγάνευ  προς  ήπαρ  • 

ους  μεν  γαρ  τις  επεμψεν 

οϊδεν,  αντί  δε  φώτων 
435      τεύχη  καΐ  σποδός  είς  εκά- 
στου δόμους  άφικνείται. 

6  χρυσαμοιβος  δ'  "Αρης  σωμάτων  Str.  3 

καί  ταλαντούχος  εν  μάχη  δορος 
44°     πυρωθεν  εζ  Ιλίου 

φίλοισι  πέμπει  βαρύ 

ψήγμα  δυσδάκρυτον,  άντήνορος  σποδού  γεμί- 
ζων  λέβητας  εύθετου. 
445      στενουσι  δ'  ευ  λέγοντες  άνδρα  τον  μεν  ώς 

μάχης  ΐδρις,  τον  δ'  εν  φοναίς  καλώς  πεσοντ 

αλλότριας  διαΐ  γυναικός,     τά  δε  σιγά  τις  βαυ- 


36  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 


450  is  creeping  upon  the  avenging  sons  of  Atreus. 
And  there  are  others  who  there  before  the  wall 
in  goodly  form  fill  tombs  of  Trojan  earth,  and  a 
hostile  land  has  buried  its  possessors. 

And  the  speech  of  the  citizens  is  heavy  with 
wrath;  it  acts,  the  part  of  a  curse  ratified  by  the 
people.     But  my  anxious  heart  is  waiting  to  hear 

460  something  still  wrapped  in  night;  for  the  Gods 
are  ever  observant  of  those  who  have  slain  many, 
and  the  dark  Furies  in  time  bring  to  obscurity 
him  who  is  fortunate  without  justice,  when  his 
fortunes  are  reversed  in  the  wear  of  life;  and 
after  he  has  once  passed  among  the  unseen,  no 
help  can  reach  him.  It  is  dangerous  for  men 
to  have  too  great  glory,  for  a  thunderbolt  from 

470  Zeus  is  hurled  into  their  eyes.  I  prefer  unenvied 
prosperity.  May  I  not  be  a  destroyer  of  cities, 
nor  may  I  ever  see  myself  living  as  a  captive  in 
the  hands  of  others. 

By  this  signal  fire  with  its  good  tidings  a  swift 
report  has  spread  through  the  city;  but  who 
knows  whether  it  is  true,  or  whether  it  is  not 
some  divine  falsehood  ?  Who  is  so  childish 
or  so  stricken  in  mind,  that,  inflamed  in  heart 
by  the  fresh  announcement  of  a  signal  fire,  he 

480  must  afterwards  suffer  when  the  report  is 
changed?     It  is  like  a  woman's  rule  to  approve 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  37 

45°      ζ€6.      φθονερον  δ'  υπ   άλγος  έρπει 

προδίκοις  Άτρείοαις. 

οί  δ*  αυτόν  περί  τείχος 

θηκας  Ίλιάδος  γάς 
455      εϋμορφοι  κατεχουσιν  •    έχθρα  δ'  έχοντας  εκρυψεν. 

βαρεία  δ*  άστωι>  φάτις  ζυν  κότω  ■  Ant.  3 

δημοκράντου  δ'  ά/)άς  riVei  χρέος. 

μένει  δ'  άκοί)ο~αι  τι  μ,ου 
46ο      μέριμνα  νυκτηρεφες. 

των  πολυκτόνων  yap  ουκ  άσκοποι  θεοί.      κελαι- 
val  δ*  'EjOtz/ue?  χρόνω 

τνχηρον  οντ   άνευ  δικας  παλιντυχη 
465      τριβα  βίου  τιθείσ   άμαυρόν,  εν  δ*  άΐ- 

στοις   τελεθοντος    οΰτις    άλκά  •     το    δ'    ύπερκότως 
κλύειν 

ευ  βαρύ  ■   βάλλεται  γαρ  οσσοις 
47°     Διόθεν  κεραυνός. 

κρίνω  δ'  άφθονον  ολβον. 

μητ    ειην  πτολιπόρθης 

μητ   ουν  αύτος  άλούς  υπ'  άλλων  βίον  κατίοοιμι. 

475      ττυρος  δ'  υπ*  ευαγγελον  Epode 

7Γθλιι/  8ιήκει  θοά 

βάζις  '   ει  δ'  ετητυμος, 

τίς  οϊΰεν,  η  τοι  θείον  εστί  μη  φύθος. 

τίς  ώδε  παιδικός  τ)  φρένων  κεκομμενος, 
48ο      φλογός  παραγγελμασιν 

νεοις  πυρωθεντα  καρΰίαν  επειτ 


38  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

a  thanksgiving  before  the  fact  is  known.  The 
female  sex  ranges  too  credulous,  quick  in  re- 
sources ;  but  by  a  speedy  death  perishes  glory 
which  is  woman-heralded. 


CHORUS    LEADER 

We  shall  quickly  know  of  this  succession  of 
light-bearing  torches  and  signal  fires  and  flame, 

490  whether  they  are  truthful,  or  whether  this  pleas- 
ant light  has  come  like  a  dream  to  deceive  our 
minds.  Here  I  see  a  herald  coming  from  the 
shore,  shaded  by  boughs  of  olives  ;  and  the  thirsty 
dust,  twin  sister  of  the  mud,  testifies  to  me  this, 
that  not  without  voice,  and  not  by  kindling  a 
flame  of  mountain  forests  will  he  tell  his  story  by 
the  smoke  of  fire ;  but  either  by  plain  speech  he 
will  bid  us  rejoice  the  more,  —  the  opposite  of  this 
I  shrink  from  uttering.     I  pray  only  that  a  good 

500  sequel  may  come  to  that  which  has  begun  so  well. 
Whoever  prays  that  this  may  be  otherwise  to  our 
state,  may  he  reap  the  fruits  of  the  folly  of 
his  mind. 

HERALD 

Hail,  paternal  soil  of  this  land  of  Argos !  In 
the  light  of  this  tenth  year  have  I  come,  with 
many  hopes  blasted,  successful  in  but  one ;  for 
I  never  thought  that  I  should  die  in  this  Argive 
land,  and  here  have  the  right  of  burial  most 
dear  to  me.      Now  hail,  Ο   land;    hail,  light  of 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

άλλαγα  λόγου  καμέίν  ; 
γυναικός  αιχμα  πρέπει 
προ  τον  φανέντος  χάριν  ζννο,ινίσαι. 
485      πιθανός  ayav  ο  θήλυς  ορός  επινέμεται 
ταχύπορος  •    άλλα  ταχύμορον 
γυναικογή ρυτον  ολλυται  κλέος. 

τάχ   εΐσόμεσθα  λαμπάδων  φαεσφόρων 
49°      φρυκτωριών  τε  και  πυρός  παραλλαγάς, 
ειτ   ουν  αληθείς  εΐτ   όνειράτων  δίκην 
τερπνόν  τόδ'  ελθον  φως  εφήλωσεν  φρενας. 
κήρυκ   απ'  ακτής  τόνδ*  ορω  κατάσκιον 
κλάδοις  ελαιας  •    μαρτυρεί  δέ  μοι  κάσις 
495      πηλού  ζύνουρος  διψία  κόνις  τάδε, 

ώς  ουτ   άναυδος  ούτε  σοι  δαίων  φλόγα 
ΰλης  όρείας  σημανεΐ  καπνω  πυρός, 
αλλ'  ή  το  χαίρειν  μάλλον  εκβάζει  λέγων, — 
τον  άντίον  δε  τοΐσδ*  αποστέργω  λόγον 
5οο      βδ  γαρ  προς  ευ  φανέίσι  προσθήκη  πέλοι. 
όστις  τάδ*  άλλως  τήδ*  επεύχεται  πάλει, 
αυτός  φρένων  καρποιτο  την  άμαρτίαν. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

ιω  πατρωον  ουδας  *  Κργειας  χθονός, 
δεκάτω  σε  φέγγει  τωδ'  άφικόμην  έτους, 
5°5      πολλών  ραγεισων  ελπίδων  μιας  τυχών. 

ου  γαρ  ποτ  ηϋχουν  τήδ*  εν  Άργεία.  χθονι 
θανών  μεθέζειν  φιλτάτου  τάφου  μέρος, 
νυν  χοάρε  μεν  χθων,  χαίρε  δ'  ήλιου  φαος, 


39 


4θ  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

the  sun;  hail,  Zeus,  lord  of  the  land;  hail,  thou 
510  Pythian  king,  mayest  thou  no  longer  send  upon 
us  darts  from  thy  bow.  Sufficiently  hostile 
didst  thou  show  thyself  by  the  Scamander ;  but 
now  again  be  our  saviour  and  our  healer,  king 
Apollo.  And  I  pray  all  the  Gods  of  the  market- 
place, and  my  protector  Hermes,  the  beloved 
herald,  whom  all  heralds  honor,  and  the  heroes 
who  sent  us  forth,  that  again  with  friendly 
hearts  they  may  welcome  home  the  army  which 
the  spear  has  spared.  Hail,  palace  of  the  king, 
beloved  roofs,  and  high-honored  seats,  and  Gods 
who  face  the  rising  sun,  if  ever  of  old,  now 
520  with  those  gleaming  eyes  receive  in  honor  our 
king  after  this  long  lapse  of  time.  For  he  has 
come,  bringing  light  in  the  night  to  you  and  to 
all  these  together,  —  king  Agamemnon.  And 
reverence  him  well,  for  it  is  his  due,  now  that 
he  has  levelled  Troy  with  the  spade  of  avenging 
Zeus,  with  which  he  has  dug  over  the  plain. 
And  the  altars  and  the  shrines  of  the  Gods 
have  disappeared,  and  the  seed  has  perished 
from  the  whole  land.  Having  thrown  such  a 
530  yoke  over  the  neck  of  Troy,  king  Atreides, 
revered  happy  man,  has  now  come  home ;  and 
he  is  the  most  worthy  to  be  honored  of  all  mor- 
tals who  live.  For  neither  Paris  nor  the  city 
which  was  his  partner  now  boasts  the  deed 
more  than  the  suffering.  For  cast  in  a  suit 
for  rapine  and  theft,  Paris  has  lost  his  prize, 
and  has  utterly  destroyed  his  ancestral  house  and 
the  land  on  which  it  stood ;  and  the  sons  of 
Priam  have  paid  a  double  forfeit. 


ΑΠΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  4ι 

ύπατος  τε  χώρας  Ζενς,  6  Τίνθιός  τ'  άναζ, 

5ΐο      robots  ιάπτων  μηκέτ    εις  ημάς  βέλη• 

άλις  παρά  Χκάμανδρον  ήσθ*  άνάρσιος  ■ 
ι/υζ/  δ*  αύτ€  σωτηρ  ισθι  καί  παιώνιος, 
άναζ  "Απολλον.     τονς  τ   άγωνίονς  θεονς 
πάντας  προσανδώ,  τον  τ   έμον  τιμάορον 

515      'Έ^ρμήν,  φίλον  κήρυκα,  κηρύκων  σέβας, 
ηρως  τε  τους  πέμφαντας,  ευμενείς  πάλιν 
στρατον  οέγζσθαι  τον  λελειμμένον  δορός. 
ιώ  μέλαθρα  βασιλέων,  φιλαι  στέγαι, 
σεμνοί  τε  θάκοι,  δαίμονες  τ   αντήλιοι, 

520      ει  που  πάλαι,  φαιδροίσι  τοισίδ*  ομμασι 
δέζασθε  κόσμω  /3acnAea  πολλω  χρόνω. 
η  κει  yap  νμιν  φως  εν  ενφρόνη  φέρων 
καί  τοΐσο*  άπασι  κοινόν,  ' Αγαμέμνων  άναζ. 
αλλ'  εν  νιν  άσπάσασθε,  και  γαρ  ονν  πρέπει, 

525      Ύροίαν  κατασκάφαντα  τον  δικηφόρον 
Αιος  μακέλλη,  τη  κατείργασται  πέδον. 
βωμοί  δ*  άίστοι  καί  θεών  ιδρύματα, 
και  σπέρμα  πάσης  εξαπόλλνται  γθονός. 
τοιόνδε  Τροία  περιβολών  ζενκτηριον 

53°      άναζ  Άτρείδης  πρέσβνς  ευδαίμων  άνηρ 
ηκει,  τίεσθαι  δ'  άξιώτατος  βροτών 
τών  ννν  •  ΐΐάρις  γαρ  οντε  σνντελης  πολις 
εζενγεται  το  δράμα  τον  πάθονς  πλέον, 
οφλών  γαρ  αρπάγης  τε  καί  κλοπής  δίκην 

535     τον  ρνσίον  θ'  ημαρτε  καί  πανώλεθρον 
αντόγθονον  πατρωον  έθρισεν  δόμον. 
δίπλα  δ'  έτεισαν  ΐίριαμίδαι  θάμάρτια. 


42  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS     LEADER 
Hail,  herald  of  the  Achaeans  from  the  army. 

HERALD 

I    welcome    your    greetings,    and    I    will    no 
longer  grudge  my  life  to  the  Gods. 

CHORUS     LEADER 
540        Was  it  love  for  this  your  fatherland  that  ex- 
ercised you  ? 

HERALD 

Yes,  so  that  my  eyes  wept  with  joy. 

CHORUS     LEADER 
A  pleasant  disease  this,  with  which  you  were 

taken. 

HERALD 

How  is  that  ?      Only  when  instructed  shall  I 
master  that  saying. 

CHORUS     LEADER 
You  were  smitten  with  love  of  those  who  loved 

you  in  turn. 

HERALD 

O,   you   mean   that  this    land   longed  for  the 
army  which  longed  for  it. 

CHORUS     LEADER 
Yes,  so  that  we  lamented  deeply  from  a  sor- 
rowing heart. 

HERALD 

Whence  came  this  grief,    of   which  the  army 
hates  to  hear  ? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

XOPOS 
κήρυξ  Αχαιών  χαίρε  των  άπο  στρατού. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
χαίρω  •    τεθναναι  δ'  ουκετ   άντερω  θεοΐς. 

XOPOS 
54°      έρως  πατρώας  τήσ  ε  γής  σ   εγύμνασεν  ; 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
ωστ    ενδακρύβιν  y   ομμασιν  χαράς  ϋπο. 

XOPOS 
τερπνής  άρ*  ήτε  τήσδ*  έπη  βόλοι  νόσου. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
πως  δη ;      διδαχθείς  τούδε  δεσπόσω  λόγου. 

XOPOS 
των  άντερώντων  ιμερω  πεπληγμενοι. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
545      ποθείν  ποθουντα  τήνδε  γήν  στρατον  λέγεις. 

XOPOS 
ως  πόλλ'  αμαυρας  εκ  φρενός  μ*  αυαστενειν. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
πόθεν  το  δνσφρον  τουτ   επήν,  στυγος  στρατω ; 


43 


44  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Long   ago   have    I    found    silence   a  cure  for 
harm. 

HERALD 

But  how  ?      When  the  kings  were  absent  did 
you  have  any  to  fear  ? 

CHORUS    LEADER 

550        I  repeat  your  own  words  :  even  to  die  had  been 
great  joy  for  us. 

HERALD 

Yes,  it  has  been  well  done.  Of  these  events  in 
the  long  lapse  of  time,  we  may  say  that  some 
have  turned  out  well  and  others  are  blameworthy. 
But  who  except  the  Gods  is  ever  free  from  woe 
through  his  whole  lifetime  ?  For  should  I  tell 
of  our  toils  and  hard  bivouacs,  our  scanty  and  hard- 
bedded  landings,  but  —  what  did  we  not  have  to 
lament,  what  did  we  not  receive  as  our  daily  por- 
tion ?  And  then  again,  when  we  reached  the  land, 
there  was  even  greater  horror ;  for  our  beds 
560  were  before  the  very  walls  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
meadow-dews  distilled  from  heaven  and  from  the 
earth,  a  constant  destruction  to  our  garments, 
making  our  hair  like  that  of  beasts.  And  should 
I  tell  of  the  bird-slaying  winter,  what  an  unbear- 
able one  the  snow  of  Ida  brought  us,  or  the  heat, 
when  the  sea  in  its  windless  midday  bed  fell  wave- 
less  to  sleep  ; — but  why  lament  all  this?  the  labor  is 
past ;  it  is  past  indeed  for  those  who  have  fallen 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

XOPOS 
πάλαι  το  σιγάν  φάρμακον  βλάβης  εχω. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 
και  πως;      απόντων  κοιράνων  ετρεις  τυράς; 

XOPOS 
55°      ως  ννν  το  σον  δη,  καϊ  θανείν  πολλή  χάρις. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

ev  γαρ  πεπρακται.      ταντα  δ'  iv  πολλω  χρόνω 
τά  μεν  τις  αν  λεζειεν  ενπετως  εχειν, 
τά  δ'  άντε  κάπίμομφα.      τις  δε  πλην  θέων 
απαντ   άπημων  τον  Si   αιώνος  χρόνον ; 

555      μόχθους  yap  ει  λεγοιμι  καϊ  δνσανλίας, 

σπαρνάς  παρηζεις  καϊ  κακοστρώτονς, —  τι  δ'  ου 
στενοντες  ου  λαχόντες  ηματος  μέρος; 
τά  δ*  άντε  χερσω,  κα\  προσην  πλέον  στνγος  • 
eu^at  γαρ  ήσαν  δαΐων  προς  τείχεσιν 

560      4ξ  ονρανον  δε  κάπο  γης  λει/χώ^αι 
ορόσοι  κατεψάκαζον,  εμπεδον  σίνος 
εσθηματων,  τιθεντες  ενθηρον  τρίχα. 
χειμώνα  δ*  ει  λεγοι  τις  οίωνοκτόνον, 
οίον  παρεΐχ   άφερτον  Ίοαία  χιών, 

565      η  θάλπος,  εντε  πόντος  εν  μεσημβριναΐς 
κοίταις  άκύμων  νηνεμοις  ενδοι  πεσών 
τι  ταντα  πενθείν  δει;      παροίχεται  πόνος' 
παροίχεται  δε,  τοϊσι  μεν  τεθνηκόσιν 


45 


46  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

so  that  they  never  even  care  to  rise  again.  But 
570  why  should  we  take  account  of  those  who  have 
perished,  and  why  should  the  living  grieve  for 
adverse  fortune  ?  I  think  it  right  to  bid  a  long 
farewell  to  calamities.  And  to  us  who  remain  of 
the  Argive  army  the  gain  prevails,  and  woe  does 
not  weigh  down  the  scale  ;  for  it  is  fitting  for  us 
thus  to  boast  in  presence  of  this  light  of  the  sun, 
as  we  flit  over  sea  and  land  :  "  This  Argive  host 
has  captured  Troy,  and  has  nailed  up  these  spoils 
to  the  Gods  throughout  Greece  to  be  an  ancestral 
580  glory  to  their  temples."  When  men  hear  things 
like  these,  they  must  glorify  the  city  and  the 
generals  ;  and  the  grace  of  Zeus  which  has  accom- 
plished this  shall  be  honored.  You  have  my 
whole  story. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

I  do  not  refuse  to  be  overcome  by  your  words ; 
for  it  is  always  youthful  for  the  aged  to  learn 
wisdom.  But  it  is  right  that  this  should  chiefly 
concern  the  palace  and  Clytaemnestra,  but  that  it 
should  also  enrich  me. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Long  ago  did  I  raise  the  song  of  joy,  when  the 
first  fiery  messenger  came  by  night,  announcing 
590  the  capture  and  destruction  of  Ilion.  And  many 
a  one  chided  me  and  said :  "  Persuaded  by  fire 
signals  do  you  now  believe  that  Troy  has  been 
sacked  ?     Surely  it   is  just  like  a  woman  to  be 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  47 

το  μηποτ   αύθις  μηδ*  άναστηναι  μελειν. 

57°      τί  τους  άναλωθεντας  εν  ψήφψ  λέγειν, 

τον  ζώντα  δ'  άλγεϊν  χρη  τύχης  παλιγκότου ; 
καϊ  πολλά  χαίρειν  συμφόρους  καταζιώ. 
ημΐν  δε  τοις  λοιποϊσιν   Αργείων  στρατού 
νίκα  το  κέρδος,  πήμα  δ'  ουκ  άντιρρεπει. 

575      ώς  κομπάσαι  τωδ'  εικός  ηλίου  φάει 

ύπερ  θαλάσσης  καϊ  χθονος  ποτωμενοις- 
"  Ύροίαν  ελόντες  δηποτ   '  Αργείων  στόλος 
θεοΐς  λάφυρα  ταύτα  τοϊς  καθ*  Ελλάδα 
δόμους  επασσάλευσαν  άρχαίον  γάνος." 

5δο      τοιαύτα  χρη  κλύοντας  εύλογείν  πόλιν 

και  τους  στρατηγούς-    καϊ  χάρις  τιμησεται 
Διός  τοδ'  έκπράζασα.     πάντ   έχεις  λόγον. 

XOPOS 

νικώμενος  λόγοισιν  ουκ  άναίνομαι. 
άει  yap  ηβα  τοις  γερουσιν  ευ  μαθείν. 
585      δόμοις  δε  ταύτα  και  Κλυταιμηστρα,  μελειν 
εικός  μάλιστα,  συν  δε  πλουτίζειν  εμε. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗΣΤΡΑ 

άνωλόλυζα  μεν  πάλαι  χαράς  ύπο, 
οτ   ηλθ'  6  πρώτος  νύχιος  άγγελος  πυρός, 
φράζων  άλωσιν  Ιλίου  τ'  άνάστασιν. 
59°      και  τις  μ'  ενίπτων  είπε,  "  φρυκτωρών  δια 
πεισθείσα  Ύροίαν  νυν  πεπορθησθαι  δοκείς ; 
η  κάρτα  προς  γυναικός  αϊρεσθαι  κέαρ." 


48  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

thus  elated  in  heart."  When  such  things  were 
said,  I  appeared  like  one  crazed.  But  still  I 
made  my  sacrifices ;  and  by  my  woman's  com- 
mand now  here,  now  there,  throughout  the  city 
they  raised  the  shout  of  joyous  praise,  as  they 
lulled  to  sleep  the  fragrant  sacrificial  flame  on 
the  altars  of  the  Gods.  Now  why  need  you  tell 
me  more?     I  shall  soon  have  an  account  in  full 

600  from  the  king  himself.  But  let  me  hasten  to 
receive  with  the  highest  honor  my  revered  husband 
on  his  return  ;  for  what  light  is  more  delightful  to 
the  eyes  of  a  wife  than  this,  —  when  God  has 
brought  her  husband  home  safe  from  the  army, 
to  open  the  gates  to  him  ?  Bear  this  message  to 
my  husband.  Bid  him  come  with  all  speed, 
beloved  as  he  is  by  the  city  ;  and  when  he  arrives, 
may  he  find  his  wife  faithful  in  his  house  as  indeed 
he  left  her,  a  noble  watch-dog  over  his  home,  a 
foe  to  his  enemies,  and  the  same  in  all  things  else, 

610  having  broken  no  seal  in  this  long  lapse  of  time. 
Nor  do  I  know  pleasure  nor  even  scandalous 
report  regarding  any  other  man  any  more  than  I 
know  the  dyeing  of  bronze.  Such  a  boast,  loaded 
with  truth,  is  no  disgrace  for  a  noble  woman  to 
utter. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

She  has  spoken  her  speech  thus  speciously  to 
you,  who  have  plain  interpreters  to  make  it  clear. 
But  tell  me,  herald,  —  I  am  asking  of  Menelaus,  — 
whether  he  will  accompany  you  and  return  safe 
home  again,  the  beloved  ruler  of  this  land. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  49 

λόγοις  τοιούτοι?  πλαγκτος  ούσ   εφαινόμην. 
όμως  δ'  εθυον,  καϊ  γυναικείω  νόμω 

595      ολολυγμον  άλλος  άλλοθεν  κατά  πτόλιν 
ελασκον  εύφημούντες,  εν  θεών  εδραις 
θυηφάγον  κοιμώντες  ευώδη  φλόγα, 
καϊ  νυν  τά  μάσσω  μεν  τι  δει  σ*  εμοί  λέγειν; 
άνακτος  αυτού  πάντα  πεύσομαι  λόγον. 

6οο     όπως  δ*  άριστα  τον  εμον  αιδοΐον  πόσιν 

σπεύσω  πάλιν  μολόντα  8cfacr0(u.      τι  yap 
γυναικί  τούτου  φέγγος  ηδιον  δρακεΐν, 
άπο  στρατείας  άνορί  σώσαντος  θεού 
πυλας  άνοίζαι;      ταυτ   άπάγγειλον  πόσει• 

605      ηκειν  όπως  τάγιστ   εράσμιον  πόλεΐ' 

γυναίκα  πίστη  ν  δ'  εν  δόμοις  εύροι  μολών 
οϊανπερ  ουν  έλειπε,  δωμάτων  κύνα 
εσθλην  εκείνω,  πολεμίαν  τοΐς  δύσφροσιν, 
και  ταλλ'  ομοίαν  πάντα,  σημαντηριον 

6ιο      ούδεν  διαφθείρασαν  εν  μηκει  χρόνου, 
ούδ*  οιδα  τέρψιν  ούδ*  επίψογον  φάτιν 
άλλου  προς  ανδρός  μάλλον  η  χαλκού  βαφάς. 
τοιοσδ'  6  κόμπος  της  αληθείας  γεμων 
ουκ  αισχρός  ως  γυναικί  yevvaCq.  λακεϊν. 

XOPOS 

6ΐ5      αύτη  μεν  ούτως  είπε  μανθάνοντί  σοι 
τοροίσιν  ερμηνεύσιν  εύπρεπώς  λογον. 
συ  δ'  είπε,  κηρυζ,  Μενελεων  δε  πεύθομαι, 
ει  νόστιμος  τε  και  σεσωσμενος  παλιι^ 
ηζει  συν  ύμϊν,  τησδε  γης  φίλον  κράτος. 

AGAMEMNON  —  4 


5o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

HERALD 

It  is  not  possible  for  me  to  tell  pleasant  false- 
620    hoods,  for  my   friends  to  reap  the  fruit  after  a 
long  time. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

But  how  can  you  chance  to  tell  us  what  is  both 
good  and  true  ?  These  two  when  separated  are 
not  easily  concealed. 

HERALD 

The  man  has  disappeared  from  the  Achaean 
hosts,  —  himself  and  his  ship.  I  tell  you  no  false 
story  now. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Did  you  see  him  sail  away  alone  from  Ilion  ; 
or  did  a  storm,  a  common  grief,  snatch  him  from 
your  host  on  the  way  ? 

HERALD 

You  have  hit  the  mark  like  a  skilful  archer, 
and  have  briefly  told  a  long  tale  of  woe. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

630        Was   he   spoken  of   by   the    other   sailors    as 
living  or  dead  ? 

HERALD 

No  one  knows  enough  to  report  it  truly,  except 
the  Sun  who  nourishes  the  life  of  the  earth. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  51 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

62ο      ουκ  εσθ*  όπως  \4ζαιμι  τά  ψευδι^  καλά 

ες  τον  πολύν  φίλοισι  καρπουσθαι  χρόνον. 

XOPOS 

πώς  hfjT   άν  ειπών  κεδνά  τάληθη  τύγοις ; 
σγισθεντα  δ'  ουκ  εΰκρυπτα  γίγνεται  τάδε. 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

άνηρ  άφαντος  ές  Άχαακον  στρατού, 
625      αυτός  τε  καϊ  το  πλοϊον.      ου  ψευδή  λέγω. 

XOPOS 

πότερον  αναχθείς  εμφανώς  ές  'Ιλίου, 

η  γείμα,  κοινον  άχθος,  ηρπασε  στρατού; 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

εκυρσας  ώστε  τοζότης  άκρος  σκοπού  • 
μακρόν  δε  πημα  συντόμως  εφημίσω. 

XOPOS 

630      πότερα  yap  αυτού  ζώντος  η  τεθνηκότος 
φάτις  προς  άλλων  ^αυτιλω^  εκλτ)ζετο ; 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

ουκ  οίοεν  ουδείς  ώστ   άπαγγεΐλαι  τορώς, 
πλην  του  τρεφοντος  Ήλιου  χθονος  φυσιν. 


52  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

How  do  you  say  that  this  storm  began  and 
ended  for  the  naval  host  through  the  wrath  of 
the  Gods  ? 

HERALD 

It  is  not  right  to  pollute  a  joyous  day  by  a 
tongue  that  bears  evil  tidings.  The  honor  due 
the  Gods  forbids.  But  when  a  messenger  with 
sad  countenance  brings  to  a  city  a  woful  tale  of  a 

640  fallen  army,  —  of  one  public  wound  for  the 
whole  state  to  feel,  and  of  many  men  dragged 
to  the  sacrifice  from  many  homes  by  the  double 
scourge  which  Ares  is  wont  to  wield,  calamity 
armed  with  double  lance,  a  fatal  pair,  —  when 
he  comes  loaded  down  with  woes  like  these, 
it  becomes  him  to  sing  this  paean  of  the  Furies. 
But  when  a  messenger  of  good  tidings  comes  to 
a  city  rejoicing  in  good  fortune,  —  but  how  can 
I  mix  the  good  with  the  evil,  in  telling  of  this 
storm  which  befell  the  Greeks  not  without  wrath 
from    the    Gods  ?     For    the    fire    and   the   sea, 

650  greatest  enemies  of  old,  conspired,  and  gave 
pledges  to  destroy  the  ill-fated  host  of  the 
Argives.  And  by  night  arose  the  perils  of  the 
stormy  waves.  For  the  Thracian  blasts  dashed 
the  ships  upon  one  another ;  and  they,  violently 
gored  by  the  whirlwind's  storm  with  the  sea- 
lashed  surge,  disappeared,  whirled  out  of  sight 
by   the    evil   shepherd.     And   when   the   bright 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  53 

XOPOS 

πώς  γάρ  λέγεις  χειμώνα  ναυτικω  στρατω 
635      ελθειν  τελευτησαί  τε  δαιμόνων  κότω ; 

ΚΗΡΥΞ 

εΰφημον  ημαρ  ου  πρέπει  κακαγγελω 
γλώσση  μι,αι,νευν  •    χωρίς  η  τιμή  θέων. 
όταν  δ'  άπευκτά  πηματ   άγγελος  πόλει 
στυγνω  προσώπω  πτωσίμου  στρατού  φέρη, — 

640      πόλει  μεν  έλκος  εν  το  δημιον  τυγείν, 

πολλούς  δε  πολλών  εζαγισθεντας  δόμων 
άνδρας  διπλή  μάστιγι,  την  "Αρης  φιλει,  — 
δίλογχον  άτην,  φοινίαν  ζυνωρίδα  • 
τοιωνδε  μεντοι  πημάτων  σεσαγμενον 

645      πρέπει  λέγειν  παιαζ/α  τόνδ*  Ερινυών, 
σωτηρίων  δε  πραγμάτων  εύάγγελον 
ηκοντα  προς  γαίρουσαν  ευεστοί  πόλιν,  — 
πως  κεδνά  τοις  κακοίσι  συμμείζω,  λέγων 
γειμών    Αχαιών  ουκ  άμηνιτον  θεοίς  ; 

65°      ζυνώμοσαν  γάρ,  όντες  εγθιστοι  το  πριν, 
πυρ  καλ  θάλασσα,  και  τα  πίστ   εδειζάτην 
φθείροντε  τον  δύστηνον  Άργείων  στρατόν. 
εν  νυκτί  δυσκύμαντα  δ'  ώρώρει  κακά. 
ναυς  γάρ  προς  άλλήλαισι  Θρηκιαι  πνοαΐ 

655      ηρεικον   at  δε  κε  ρ  οτνπ  ου  μεν  αι  βία 

χειαώι/ι  τνφώ  συν  ζάλη  τ   ομβροκτύπω, 
ψχοντ  άφαντοι,  ποιμενος  κάκου  στρόβω. 
επεί  δ'  ανήλθε  λαμπρον  ηλίου  φάος, 


54  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

light  of  the  sun  came,  we  saw  the  Aegean 
660  blossoming  with  corpses  of  Achaean  men  and 
with  wrecks  of  ships.  And  as  to  ourselves,  it 
was  some  God  (no  man)  who  took  the  helm, 
and  stole  or  begged  us  off,  with  our  ship's 
hull  uninjured.  And  Fortune  as  a  willing 
saviour  sat  upon  our  ship,  so  that  she  should 
neither  take  in  the  surging  wave  at  anchorage, 
nor  be  dashed  upon  a  rock-bound  coast.  And 
afterwards,  having  escaped  a  watery  grave,  in 
the  bright  day,  not  yet  trusting  our  fortune,  we 
brooded  in  our  thoughts  over  our  new  calamity, 
670  on  the  sufferings  of  our  army,  most  wretchedly 
destroyed.  And  now  if  any  of  them  still  breathe, 
they  speak  of  us  as  dead.  Why  should  they 
not  ?  We  believe  that  this  has  been  their  fate. 
But  may  it  be  for  the  best.  At  least,  first  and 
above  all  expect  the  return  of  Menelaus ;  for,  if 
any  ray  of  the  sun  now  finds  him  alive  and  well, 
through  the  help  of  Zeus  who  is  not  yet  ready 
utterly  to  annihilate  our  race,  there  is  still  hope 
that  he  will  come  back  to  his  home.  When  you 
680    have  heard  all  this,  know  that  you  have  the  truth. 


CHORUS 

Who  was  it  who  once  named  her  with  such 
perfect  truth  ?  —  was  it  perhaps  some  one  whom 
we  do  not    see,  hi    foreknowledge  of    what  was 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  $5 

ορωμεν  ανθούν  πέλαγος  Αίγάΐον  νεκροΐς 
66ο      ανδρών  Αχαιών  ναυτικοΐς  τ'  ερειπίοις. 

ημάς  γε  μεν  δη  ναυν  τ*  άκηρατον  σκάφος 

ήτοι  τις  εζεκλεψεν  η  ^ζητησατο 

θεός  τις,  ουκ  άνθρωπος,  οΐακος  θιγών. 

τνγτ)  δε  σωτηρ  νανν  θελουσ*  εφεζετο, 
665      ως  μητ   εν  ορμώ  κύματος  ζάλην  εχειν 

μητ   εξοκειλαι  προς  κραταίλεων  γθόνα. 

έπειτα  δ'  αδην  πόντιον  πεφευγότες, 

λευκον  κατ   ημαρ,  ου  πεποιθότες  τύχη, 

εβουκολουμεν  φροντίσιν  νέον  πάθος, 
670      στρατού  καμοντος  και  κακώς  σποδουμενου. 

και  νυν  εκείνων  ει  τις  εστίν  εμπνέων, 

λεγουσιν  ημάς  ως  ολωλότας,  τι  μη  ; 

ημεΐς  τ   εκείνους  ταυτ   εγειν  δοζάζομεν. 

γένοιτο  δ'  ως  άριστα.      Μενελεων  γάρ  ουν 
675      πρώτον  τε  και  μάλιστα  προσδοκά  μολεΐν. 

ει  δ'  ουν  τις  άκτίς  ηλίου  νιν  ιστορεί 

-χλωρόν  τε  καϊ  βλέποντα,  μη^αναΐς  Διός, 

ούπω  θελοντος  efaz^aXoicrcu  γένος, 

ελπίς  τις  αυτόν  προς  δόμους  ηζειν  πάλιν, 
68ο     τοσαυτ   άκουσας  ϊσθι  τάληθη  κλύων. 

XOPOS 

/  J        »  /  γ  ?  Ο»  Ci. 

τις  ποτ   ωνομαζεν  ωο  Str.  ι 

ες  το  πάν  ετητύμως ; 

μη  τις  οντιν    ούχ  ορώ- 

μεν  προνοιαισι  του  πεπρωμένου 


56  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


fated,  guiding  the  tongue  in  fortune  ?  —  her  the 
spear-wedded,  much  fought-for  Helen  ?  For 
being  in  very  truth  the  destroyer  of  ships,  the 
destroyer  of  men,  the  destroyer  of  cities,  she 
sailed  forth  from  the  rich  curtains  of  her  home, 

690  driven  by  the  breath  of  the  giant  west  wind. 
And  hosts  of  spear-bearing  huntsmen  followed  in 
their  track,  after  they  had  plied  their  oars  out  of 
sight  to  the  leafy  banks  of  the  Simois,  there  to 
rouse  bloody  strife. 

But  wrath  which  works  its  vengeance  brought 

700  to  I  lion  a  κήΒος  {marriage  or  woe),  rightly  so  named, 
late  in  time  exacting  the  penalty  for  the  dishonor 
of  hospitality  and  of  hospitable  Zeus  from  those 
who  loudly  applauded  the  nuptial  song,  which  it 

710  then  fell  to  the  brethren  of  Paris  to  sing.  But 
Priam's  venerable  city  is  learning  a  new  song, 
and  utters  a  loud  cry  of  grievous  woe,  now 
calling  Paris  the  accursedly  wedded, — 

nF  vft  rS  ?F  "$F  * 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  5  7 

685  γλωσσαν  εν  τύχα  νεμων  ; 

ταν_οορίγαμβρον'  άμφινει- 

κη  θ'  'EXeygy  ;   inei  πρεπόντως 

ελεναυς,  ελανΰρος,  ελεπτολις, 
690  Ικ  των  αβροτιμων 

προ  καλυμμάτων  έπλευσε 

ζέφυρου  γίγαντος  αύρα, 

πολύανΖροί  τε  φεράσπιοες 
695  κυναγοϊ  κατ   Ιχνος,  πλάταν  αφαντον 

κελσάντων  Σιμοζντος 

άκτας  in   άεξιφυλλους 

δι'  εριν  αίματόεσσαν. 

Ίλιω  δε  κήδος  6 ρ-  Ant•  * 

7οο  θωνυμον  τελεσσίφρων 

μηνυς  ηλασεν,  τράπε- 
ζας άτίμωσιν  υστερώ  χρόνω 

καΐ  ζυνεστίου  Αώς 
705  πρασσομένα  το  νυμφοτι- 

μον  μέλος  εκφάτως  τίοντας, 

ύμεναων,  ος  τότ  επερρεπεν 

γαμβροϊσιν  άε'ι'οειν. 

μεταμανθάνουσα  δ'  υμνον 
7ΐο  ΤΙριάμου  πόλις  γεραια 

πολύθρηνον  μέγα  που  στ  εν  ει 

κικλησκουσα  ΤΙάριν  τον  αΐνόλεκτρον, 

t  παμπρόσθη  πολύθρηνον 
715  αΙων   άμφι  πολιταν 

μελεον  αϊμ    ά:>ατλασαΛ 


5$  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


So  did  a  man  once  rear  in  his  house  a  savage 
lion,  taken  unweaned  from   its  mother's  breast. 

720  In  its  young  life  he  was  gentle,  friendly  to  the 
children  and  a  joy  to  the  old  ;  and  he  was  often 
in  their  arms,  like  a  new-born  babe,  with  eyes 
brightening  towards  the  friendly  hand,  and 
fawning  in  its  need  of  food. 

But  after  a  time  he  showed  the  primal  nature 
of  his  race;   for,  as  thanks  for  his  nurture,  by 

730  destruction  of  slaughtered  sheep  he  unbidden 
prepared  a  banquet;  and  the  house  was  stained 
with  blood,  a  hopeless  grief  to  the  servants,  a 
mighty  murderous  mischief.  And  now  it  was  seen 
that  a  priest  of  Ate  had  by  God's  behest  been 
reared  within  the  house. 

In  like  manner,  I  should  say,  there  came  to  the 

740  city  of  Ilion  (in  Helen)  a  spirit  of  unruffled  calm, 
a  gentle  ornament  of  wealth,  a  soft  glance  of  the 
eye,  a  soul-consuming  flower  of  love.     But  soon 


Α12ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 


59 


εθρεψεν  δε  λέοντα  Str.  2 

σίνιν  δόμους  άγάλακτον 

ούτως  άνηρ  φίλομαστον, 
72ο  εν  βυότον  ττροτελείοις 

άμερον,  ευφίλόπαι,δα 

καΐ  γεραροΐς  επίγαρτον. 

πολεα  ο    εσκ   εν  αγκαΚαις 

νεοτρόφον  τέκνου  δίκαν, 
725  φαίδρωπος  ττοτί  χείρα  σαί- 

νων  τε  γάστρος  άνάγκαις. 

γ^ρονισθεΧς  δ'  άπεδειζεν  Ant.  2 

ε#ος  το  ττρόσθε  τοκήων. 

yapiv  τροφάς  γαρ  αμείβων 
73°  μηλοφόνουσίν  εν  άταις 

δαΓτ'  άκελευστος  ετευζεν  • 

αίματι  δ*  οίκο 9  εφύρθη, 

άμαγον  άλγος  οίκεταυς 

μέγα  σίνος  πολύκτονον, 
735  c#c  (ζέου  ο   ιερεύς  τις  α- 

τας  δόμοις  προσεθρεφθη. 

πάραυτα  δ'  ελθεΐν  ες  'Ιλίου  7Γολιι>  Str.  3 

λέγοιμ  αν  φρόνημα  μεν 
74°  νηνεμου  γαλατάς, 

άκασκαων  τ   αγαλ/χα  πλούτου, 
μαλθακον  ομμάτων  βέλος, 
δηζίθυμον  έρωτος  άνθος. 


6o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


she  darted  from  her  course  and  brought  to  pass  the 
bitter  ends  of  her  marriage,  settled  with  them  for 
woe,  befriended  with  them  for  woe,  rushing  upon 
the  sons  of  Priam,  under  the  guidance  of  hospitable 
Zeus,  as  an  avenging  Fury  which  brides  bewail. 

750  There  is  a  venerable  saying,  uttered  of  old  among 
mortals,  that  man's  high  fortune,  when  it  is 
matured,  bears  offspring,  and  dies  not  childless; 
but  that  from  good  fortune  there  springs  by 
descent  insatiate  woe.  But  apart  from  others  I 
am  of   my   own  mind.     It   is  the  impious  deed 

760  that  afterwards  begets  children  which  are  like 
their  race,  while  the  fate  of  righteous  houses 
is  always  blessed  in  its  offspring.  One  ancient 
outrage  is  wont  from  time  to  time,  when  the  fated 
moment  comes,  to  beget  a  new  outrage,  sporting 
wantonly  in  the  calamities  of  men,  .  .  .  until  at  last 
it  breeds  the  divinity  against  which  none  can  fight 

770  and  none  can  war,  the  unholy  audacity  of  Ate, 
who  brings  darkness  into  houses,  like  to  her 
parents.     But   Justice  shines  in  smoky  houses, 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  6 1 

745      παρακλίνασ   έπέκρανεν  δε  γάμου  πίκρας  τελευτάς, 
$ύσε8ρος  καϊ  δυσόμιλος 
συμένα  ΙΙριαμίοαισιν, 
πομπα  Διός  ξενίου, 
νυμφόκλαυτος  'Έρινύς. 

75°     παλαίφατος  δ'  εν  βροτοίς  γέρων  λόγος  Ant.  3 

τέτυκται,  μέγαν  τελε- 

σθέντα  φωτός  όλβον 

τεκνουσθαι  μηο*  απαιδα  θνησκειν, 
755      εκ  δ'  άγαθάς  7υχας  yeVei 

βλαστάνειν  άκόρεστον  οίζύν. 

διχα  δ*  αλλωζ'  μονόφρων  ειμί  •    το  δυσσεβες  γάρ 
έργον 

μετά  μεν  πλείονα  τίκτει, 
760      σφετέρα  δ*  εικότα  γέννα, 

οίκων  ο   αρ   ευσυόικων 

καλλίπαις  πότμος  αεί. 

φιλεΐ  δε  τίκτειν  ύβρις  Str.  4 

μεν  παλαιά  νεά- 
765      ζούσαν  eV  κακοις  βροτων 

υμριν  τοτ   ή  70C7 ,  07€  70  κυριον  μο\Ύ) 

~\νεαρά  φάους  κότον,^ 

δαίμονα  τε  τάν  άμαχον,  άπόλεμον,  άνίερον 
77°      θράσος  /Λελαιζ/ας  μελάθροισιν  *Α.τας, 

ειδομέναν  τοκευσιν. 

Αίκα  δε  λάμπει  μεν  εν  Ant.  4 

ουσκάπνοις  δώ/χασΊ^, 


62  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


and  honors  the  righteous  life;  but  gilded  abodes 
where  hands  are  unclean  she  leaves  with  averted 
780  eyes,  and  comes  to  pious  homes,  having  no  rev- 
erence for  the  power  of  wealth  which  is  falsely 
stamped  with  praise;  and  she  guides  everything 
to  its  destined  end. 

Hail,  Ο  king,  destroyer  of  Troy,  son  of  Atreus, 
how  shall  I  address  thee,  how  shall  I  honor  thee, 
without  rising  above  or  falling  below  the  proper 
meed  of  thy  praise?  Many  mortals  honor  the 
mere  semblance  of  being,  transgressing  justice; 

790  and  every  one  is  ready  to  lament  with  the  unfortu- 
nate, though  no  sting  of  grief  comes  to  his  heart ; 
and  men  rejoice  with  counterfeit  joy,  straining 
their  unsmiling  faces.  But  whoever  is  a  good 
judge  of  his  flock,  can  never  mistake  the  eyes 
which  seem  to  greet  from  a  friendly  heart, 
but  only  fawn  with  watery  friendship.  So  then, 
when  thou  didst  lead  forth  thy  army  to  avenge 

800  Helen  (I  will  not  conceal  it  from  thee),  thou  wert 
very  unfavorably  depicted,  as  not  guiding  well  the 
helm  of  thy  thoughts,  as  inspiring  with  willing 
courage  men  who  were  doomed  to  death.     But 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  63 

775     τον  δ*  εναίσιμον  τίει  jjSibyl* 

τά  χρυσόπαστα  δ*  εδεθλα  συν  πίνω  γερών 

παλιντρόποις 

ομμασι  λιπουσ',  όσια  προσεμολε,  SvvafXLV  ου 
78ο      σέβουσα  πλούτου  παράσημον  αϊνω  • 

παν  δ'  επί  rep  μα  ν  ω  μα. 

άγε  δη,  βασιΚευ,  Τροίας  πτολ'ιπορθ* , 

Άτρέως  γενεθλον, 
785      πώς  σε  προσείπω  ;   πώς  σε  σεβίζω 

μήθ*  ύπεράρας  μήθ*  ύποκάμψας 

καιρόν  γάριτος  ; 

πολλοί  δε  βροτών  το  δοκεΐν  είναυ 

προτίουσι  δίκην  παραβάντες. 
79ο     τω  δυσπραγουντι  δ*  επιστενάγειν 

πας  τις  έτοιμος  •    δήγμα  δε  λύπης 

ούδεν  εφ*  ήπαρ  προσικνεϊται  • 

και  ζυγγαίρουσιν  ομοιοπρεπεϊς 

αγέλαστα  πρόσωπα  βιαζόμενοι. 
795      όστις  δ'  αγαθός  προ  βατ  oyv  ώμων, 

ουκ  εστί  λαθεΐν  όμματα  φωτός, 

τά  δοκουντ   ευφρονος  εκ  διανοίας 

ύδαρεΐ  crcu^eil•'  φιλότητι. 

συ  δε  μοι  τότε  μεν  στελλων  στρατιαν 
8οο     'ΈΧ^νης  ενεκ,  ου  γαρ  σ*  επικεύσω, 

κάρτ    άπομοΰσως  ησθα  γεγραμμενος, 

ούδ'  ευ  πραπίδων  οιακα  νεμων 

θάρσος  εκούσιον 

άνδράσι  θνησκουσι  κομίζων. 


64  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


now  from  the  depths  of  my  heart,  and  not  without 
friendship,  do  I  say  that  labor  is  joyous  to  those 
who  have  finished  it  well.  And  thou  wilt  learn  in 
time  by  inquiry  who  of  the  citizens  justly,  and 
who  wrongly,  directs  the  state. 

AGAMEMNON 

810  First  it  is  right  for  me  to  address  Argos,  and 
the  Gods  of  the  land  who  have  helped  me  in  my 
return  and  in  the  justice  which  I  exacted  from 
the  city  of  Priam;  for  the  Gods,  hearing  the 
cause  pleaded  (but  not  by  the  tongue),  cast  their 
votes  without  dissent  into  the  bloody  urn  for 
the  murderous  destruction  of  Ilion.  And  Hope 
approached  the  other  urn,  which  no  hand  had 
filled.     The  captured  city  is  even  now  conspicuous 

820  by  its  smoke.  The  blasts  of  calamity  still  live; 
but  the  ashes  of  the  city,  as  they  die  with  them, 
send  forth  rich  blasts  of  wealth.  For  all  this  we 
must  pay  ever  memorable  honor  to  the  Gods;  for 
we  drew  our  nets  exceeding  high,  and  to  avenge 
a  woman  the  Argive  monster  levelled  the  city  with 
the  dust,  the  offspring  of  a  horse,  a  spear-bearing 
host,  which  sprung  its  leap  as  the  Pleiads  were 
setting;  and  the  savage  lion,  leaping  over  the 
towers,  lapped  its  fill  of  tyrants'  blood.  All  this 
prelude   have   I   uttered    to    the    Gods.     But  as 

830    to  your  friendly  spirit,  I  remember  what  I  have 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  65 

So5      νυν  δ*  ουκ  άπ   άκρας  φρενός  ούδ*  άφίλως 
ευφρων  πόνος  ευ  τελεσασι. 
γνώσει  δε  χρόνω  διαπευθόμενος 
τόν  τε  δικαίως  /cat  τον  άκαίρως 
πόλιν  οίκουρουντα  πολιτών. 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

8ιο      πρώτον  μεν   Αργός  καϊ  θεούς  εγχώριους 

δίκη  προσειπεϊν,  τους  εμοί  μεταιτίους 

νόστου  δικαίων  θ*  ων  επραζάμην  πόλιν 

ΤΙριάμου  •   δίκας  γαρ  ουκ  από  γλώσσης  θεοί 

κλύοντες  άνδροθνητας   Ιλίου  φθοράς 
8ΐ5      εις  αιματηρον  τεύχος  ου  διχορρόπως 

ψήφους  εθεντο  ■   τω  δ*  εναντίω  κύτει 

ελπίς  προσηει  χειρός  ου  πληρουμενω. 

καπνω  δ*  άλουσα  νυν  ετ   ευσημος  πόλις. 

ατής  ^υελλαι  ζώσι  •   συνθνήσκουσα  δε 
82ο      σποδός  προπεμπει  πίονας  πλούτου  πνοάς. 

τούτων  θεοίσι  χρή  πολύμνηστον  χάριν 

τίνειν,  επείπερ  και  πάγας  υπερκότους 

επραζάμεσθα,  καϊ  γυναικός  ουνεκα 

πόλιν  διημάθυνεν  Άργεϊον  δάκος, 
825      Ιππου  νεοσσός,  άσπιδηφόρος  λεώς, 

πηδημ   ορούσας  άμφϊ  ΤΙλειάδων  δύσιν  • 

υπερθορών  δε  πύργον  ώμηστης  λέων 

άδην  ελειζεν  αίματος  τυραννικού. 

θεοίς  μεν  εζετεινα  φροίμιον  τόδε  • 
830      τα  δ'  ες  το  σον  φρόνημα  /xejai^/xai  ^λνων 

AGAMEMNON  —  5 


66  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

heard;  for  I  say  the  same,  and  you  have  me  as 
your  advocate.  For  there  are  few  men  to  whom 
this  is  native  born,  to  honor  a  friend  who  is  fortu- 
nate without  jealousy.  For  hateful  poison  sits  at 
the  heart,  and  doubles  the  grief  to  him  who  is 
infected  with  the  disease :  he  is  himself  weighed 
down  by  his  own  afflictions,  and  when  he  sees  the 
prosperity  of  another,  he  laments.     I  can  speak 

840  from  knowledge;  for  I  know  full  well  men  who 
are  a  mere  mirror  of  friendship,  a  shadow  of  a 
shade,  men  who  seem  to  be  very  kindly  disposed 
to  me.  But  U  lysses  alone,  though  he  sailed  with  me 
against  his  will,  was  always  by  my  side  as  a  ready 
trace-horse, — whether  I  am  speaking  of  him  liv- 
ing or  dead.  As  to  other  matters,  regarding  the 
state  and  the  Gods,  we  will  hold  public  assemblies 
and  consult  about  them  in  full  council;  and  what 
is  well,  we  will  take  council  that  it  may  long  abide; 
but  for  whatever  needs  healing  remedies,  either 

850  by  cautery  or  by  friendly  surgery  we  will  try  to 
avert  the  harm  of  the  disease.  And  now  I  must 
pass  into  my  house  and  to  the  hearthstone  of  my 
home;  and  first  let  me  give  my  thanks  to  the 
Gods,  who  sent  me  forth  and  now  have  brought 
me  home  again.  And  since  victory  has  followed 
me,  may  it  abide  forever. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Citizens,  old  men  of  Argos  who  are  present,  I 
will  not  be  ashamed  to  speak  to  you  of  my  ways 


ΑΠΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

και  φημι  ταύτα  και  συνηγορόν  μ   ^Xet9. 
παύροις  γαρ  ανδρών  εστί  συγγενές  τόδε, 
φίλον  τον  εύτυγουντ   άνευ  φθόνου  σεβειν. 
ούσφρων  γαρ  ιος  καρδίαν  προσημενος 

835      αγθος  διπλοιζει  τω  πεπαμενω  νόσον; 
τοις  τ   αύτος  αυτού  ττήμασιν  βαρύνεται 
και  τον  θυραΐον  ολβον  είσορών  στενει. 
ειδώς  λέγοιμ*  αν,  ευ  γαρ  εξεπίσταμαι 
ομιλίας  κάτοπτρον,  εΐδωλον  σκιάς, 

840      δοκουντας  elz/cu  κάρτα  πρευμενείς  εμοί. 

μόνος  δ'  'Οδυσσεύς,  όσπερ  ούχ  εκών  επλει, 
ζευχθεϊς  έτοιμος  ην  εμοί  σειραφόρος  • 
ειτ  ουν  θανόντος  είτε  καΐ  ζώντος  περί 
λέγω.      τα  δ'  άλλα  προς  πόλιν  τε  καϊ  θεούς 

845      κοινούς  αγώνας  θεντες  εν  πανηγύρει 

βουλευσόμεσθα.      και  το  μεν  καλώς  έχον 
όπως  γ^ρονίζον  ευ  μενεΐ  βουλευτεον  • 
οτω  δε  καϊ  δα  φαρμάκων  παιωνίων, 
ήτοι  κεαντες  η  τεμόντες  ευφρόνως 

850     πειρασόμεσθα  πημ   άποστρέψαι  νόσου, 
νυν  ο    ες  μελαθρα  και  δόμους  εφεστίους 
ελθών  θεοϊσι  πρώτα  δεζιώσομαι, 
οιπερ  πρόσω  πεμφαντες  ηγαγον  τγοΛιζλ 
νίκη  δ'  επείπερ  εσπετ,  εμπεδως  μενοι. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

855      άνδρες  πολιται,  πρεσβος  Άργείων  τόδε, 
ουκ  αισχυνουμαι  τους  φιλάν^ρας  τρόπους 


67 


68  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

of  affection  to  my  husband;  in  time  timidity  dies 
out  in  mortals.  Not  having  learned  from  others, 
I  will  tell  you  of  my  own  wretched  life  during 

860  the  whole  time  while  he  was  absent  at  Troy.  In 
the  first  place,  it  is  a  terrible  evil  for  a  wife  to  sit 
deserted  in  her  home  without  her  husband,  hear- 
ing many  adverse  reports,  and  for  one  man  to 
come  with  ill  news  and  then  for  another  to  bring 
in  a  tale  of  woe  worse  than  the  first  and  proclaim 
it  to  the  house.  And  if  this  man  had  been  wounded 
as  often  as  the  reports  came  running  into  our 
house,  I  must  say  that  he  has  as  many  wounds  in 
him  as  a  net  has  holes.  And  if  he  had  perished 
as  often  as  the  reports  made  out,  why  then  like  a 

870  second  three-bodied  Geryon,  he  might  boast  of 
having  received  many  a  triple  coverlet  of  earth, 
—  all  above  ground  (I  have  nothing  to  say  of  any 
below),  —  having  died  once  in  each  of  his  three 
forms.  In  consequence  of  such  adverse  rumors 
many  a  time  have  others  had  to  loosen  forcibly 
halters  from  my  neck,  suspended  to  a  beam  above. 
Owing  to  this  our  son  is  not  here  by  my  side,  the 
lord  of  my  and  thy  affections,  Orestes.     Do  not 

880  be  surprised  at  this,  for  a  friendly  ally  is  protect- 
ing him,  Strophius  of  Phocis,  who  warned  me  of 
the  twofold  dangers  which  threatened  us,  first, 
of  thy  danger  at  Troy,  and  then  again,  in  case 
anarchy  shall  be  proclaimed  by  the  people  and 
overthrow  thy  council,  as  it  is  natural  to  mortals 
to  trample  all  the  more  upon  one  who  has  fallen. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  69 

λε£αι  προς  υμάς  ■   εν  χρόνω  δ*  άποφθίνει 
το  τάρβος  άνθρώποισιν.      ουκ  άλλων  πάρα 
μαθούσ,  εμαυτης  δύσφορον  λέξω  βίον 

86ο     τοσόνδ'  όσονπερ  ούτος  ην  υπ*  Ίλιω. 
το  μεν  γυναίκα  πρώτον  άρσενος  δίχα 
ησθαυ  δόμους  ερημον  εκπαγλον  κακόν, 
πολλάς  κλνονσαν  κλήδονας  παλιγκότους  • 
και  τον  μεν  ηκειν,  τον  δ*  επεσφερειν  κάκου 

865      κάκιον  άλλο  πημα,  λάσκοντας  δόμοις. 
καΐ  τραυμάτων  μεν  ει  τόσων  ετύγχανεν 
άνηρ  όδ\  ώς  προς  οίκον  ώχετεύετο 
φάτις,  τετρωται  δικτύου  πλέον  λέγειν, 
εί  δ'  ην  τεθνηκώς,  ως  επληθυον  λόγοι, 

870     τρισώματός  τάν  Τηρυών  ό  δεύτερος 

πολλην  άνωθεν  —  την  κάτω  γαρ  ου  λέγω  — 
χθονος  τρίμοιρον  χλαΓ^α*/  εζηύχει  λαβών, 
άπαζ  εκάστω  κατθανών  μορφώματι. 
τοιώνδ*  εκατι  κληδόνων  παλιγκοτων 

875      πολλάς  άνωθεν  άρτάνας  εμης  δερης 
έλυσαν  άλλοι  προς  βίαν  λελημμενης. 
εκ  τώνδε  τοι  παίς  ενθάδ*  ου  παραστατεί, 
εμών  τ  ε  καΐ  σών  κύριος  πιστευματων, 
ώς  χρην,  'Ορέστης  •   μηδέ  θαυμάσης  τόδε. 

88ο     τρέφει  γαρ  αύτον  ευμενής  δορύζενος 

Στρόφιος  6  Φωκεύς,  άμφίλεκτα  πηματα 
εμοϊ  προφωνών,  τόν  θ*  υπ*  Ίλιω  σεθεν 
κίνδυνον,  ει  τε  δημόθρους  αναρχία 
βουλην  καταρρίψειεν,  ώστε  σύγγονον 

885      βροτοίσι  τον  πεσόντα  λακτίσαι  πλέον. 


7o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

This  excuse  of  mine  has  no  deceit  in  it.  For  me 
now  the  gushing  fountains  of  my  tears  are  dry ; 
there  is  not  a  drop  left  in  them. 

And  I  have  suffered  in  my  late-watching  eyes, 

890  always  bewailing  the  fire  signals  which  were  to 
bring  news  of  thee,  but  were  always  neglected ; 
and  in  my  dreams  I  was  constantly  awakened  by 
the  gentle  buzzing  of  the  humming  gnat,  seeing 
more  calamities  befall  thee  than  the  time  I  was 
sleeping  could  have  held.  Now,  having  endured 
all  this,  with  heart  free  from  sorrow,  I  can  ad- 
dress this  man  as  the  watch-dog  of  the  fold,  as 
the  mainstay  that  saves  the  ship,  as  the  firmly 
fixed  pillar  of  a  lofty  roof,  as  an  only  born  child 
to  a   father,  and  as    land  seen  by   sailors  when 

900  all  hope  was  lost,  as  a  day  most  beautiful  to  be- 
hold after  a  storm,  as  the  stream  of  a  fountain 
to  a  thirsty  wayfarer.  It  is  delightful  to  escape 
all  necessity.  With  such  words  do  I  think  it 
right  to  address  him.  But  let  all  jealousy  be 
absent.  Many  are  the  woes  we  have  endured 
hitherto ;  but  now,  dear  one,  dismount  from  thy 
chariot,  but  do  not  touch  to  the  ground  that  foot 
of  thine,  Ο  king,  which  has  trampled  upon  Ilion. 
Servants,  why  do  you  delay,  you  to  whom  has 
been  given  the  duty  of   spreading  embroideries 

910  over  the  path  on  which  he  is  to  walk  ?  Let  there 
immediately  be  made  a  way  spread  with  purple 
into  a  house  he  little  hoped  to  enter,  as  Justice 
shall  guide  him.  And  all  else  my  care,  not  over- 
come by  sleep,  will  arrange  justly  with  God's  help 
according  to  fate. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  η  ι 

τοιάδε  μεντοι  σκήψι,ς  ου  δόλο^  φέρει, 
εμοιγε  μεν  δτ)  κλαυμάτων  επίσσυτοι 
πηγαΐ  κατεσβήκασιν,  ούδ*  ενι  σταγών. 
εν  6\pLK0LT0L<;  δ*  ομμασί  βλάβας  εγω 

890     τάς  άμφί  σοι  κλάουσα  λαμπτηρουγίας 
ατημέλητους  αίεν.      εν  δ*  όνείρασι 
λεπταίς  ύπαϊ  κώνωπος  εζηγειρόμην 
ριπαϊσι  θωύσσοντος,  άμφί  σου  πάθη 
ορωσα  πλείω  του  ζυνεύΰοντος  χρόνου. 

895      νυν  ταύτα  πάντα  τλάσ*  άπενθήτω  φρενΐ 

λεγοιμ   αν  avSpa  τόν$ε  των  σταθμών  κύνα, 
σωτήρα  ναός  πρότονον,  υψηλής  στέγης 
στυλον  ποδήρη,  μονογενές  τεκνον  πατρί, 
και  γήν  φανεΊσαν  ναυτίλοις  παρ*  ελπίδα, 

90°      κάλλιστον  ήμαρ  είσιοείν  εκ  γείματος, 
οδοιπορώ  διψώ^τι  πηγαίον  ρεος. 
τερπνόν  δε  τάναγκαΐον  εκφυγείν  απαι^ 
τοιοισδε  τοί  νιν  άζίώ  προσφθεγμασιν. 
φθόνος  δ'  άπεστω  •   πολλά  γαρ  τά  πρίν  κακά 

9°5      ήνειγόμεσθα.      νυν  δε  μοι,  φίλον  κάρα, 
εκβαιν   απήνης  τήσδε,  μή  χαμαΐ  τιθεΧς 
τον  σον  πόο\  ωναζ,  Ιλίου  πορθήτορα. 
δμ,ωαι,  τί  μελλεθ\  αίς  επεσταλται  τέλος 
πέδον  κελεύθου  στορνύναι  πετασμασιν  ; 

9ΐ°      ευθύς  γενεσθω  πορφυρόστρωτος  πόρος 
ες  δωμ*  άελπτον  ως  αν  ήγήταί  οίκη. 
τά  δ'  άλλα  φροντίς  ούχ  ΰπνω  νικωμενη 
θήσει  δικαίως  συν  θεοίς  είμαρμενα. 


72  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

AGAMEMNON 

Offspring  of  Leda,  guardian  of  my  house,  thou 
hast  made  a  speech  which  was  becoming  to  my 
long  absence,  for  thou  hast  spoken  at  length ; 
but  to  be  praised  justly,  that  is  a  boon  that  ought 
to  come  from  others.  Moreover,  do  not  treat  me 
effeminately  as  if  I  were  a  woman ;  and  do  not, 

920  like  a  barbarian,  open  thy  mouth  to  utter  a  cring- 
ing cry ;  and  do  not  make  my  way  odious  by 
strewing  it  with  costly  robes.  With  these  we 
should  honor  the  Gods ;  but  for  one  who  is  a 
mortal  to  walk  on  these  beauties  of  embroidery  is 
to  my  mind  by  no  means  without  its  terrors. 
I  beg  thee  to  honor  me  like  a  man,  not  like  a  God. 
Without  foot-mats  and  embroideries  Fame  makes 
herself  heard ;  and  not  to  be  evil-minded  is  the 
greatest  gift  of  the  Gods.  When  a  man  has 
ended  his  life  in  fair  prosperity,  we  may  call  him 

930  happy.  If  I  can  fare  in  all  things  as  I  have 
done  now,  I  have  good  courage. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 
Now  do  not  say  this  to  thwart  my  purpose. 

AGAMEMNON 

Purpose  ?  Understand  that  I  am  not  going  to 
let  my  purpose  be  thwarted. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Couldst  thou  perhaps  have  promised  the  Gods  in 
some  moment  of  terror  that  thou  would st  act  thus  ? 


AI2XYAOY   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  73 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

Λήδας  γενεθλον,  δωμάτων  εμών  φύλαξ, 

9ΐ5      απουσία  μεν  είπας  είκότως  εμη  ' 

μακράν  γαρ  έξετεινας  ■   αλλ'  εναισίμως 
αΐνείν,  παρ'  άλλων  χρη  τοδ'  ερχεσθαι  γέρας, 
και  τάλλα  μη  γυναικός  iv  τρόποις  εμε 
άβρυνε,  μηδέ  βαρβάρου  φωτός  δίκην 

92ο      χαμαιπετες  βοαμα  προσχάνης  εμοί, 

μηδ'  είμασι  στρώτασ   επίφθονον  πόρον 
τίθει '   θεούς  τοι  τοϊσδε  τιμαλφών  χρεών  • 
iv  ποικίλοις  δε  θνητον  οντά  κάλλεσιν 
βαίνειν  εμοί  μεν  ουδαμώς  άνευ  φόβου. 

925      λέγω  κατ   άνδρα,  μη  θεόν,  σεβειν  εμε. 
χωρίς  ποδοψήστρων  τε  καΐ  των  ποικίλων 
κληδων  άϋτεϊ  •    καΐ  το  μη  κακώς  φρονείν 
θεού  μεγιστον  δώρον.     ολβίσαι  δε  χρη 
βίον  τελευτησαντ   εν  εύεστοΐ  φίλη. 
93ο     €t  πάντα  δ'  ως  πράσσοιμ   άν,  ευθαρσής  εγώ. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
καΐ  μην  τόδ'  είπε  μη  παρά  γνώμην  εμού 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
γνώμην  μεν  Ισθι  μη  διαφθερουντ   εμε. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
ηυξω  θεοΐς  δείσας  αν  ωδ'  ερδειν  τάδε  ; 


74  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

AGAMEMNON 

I  uttered  this  determination,  if  ever  a  man  did, 
knowing  well  what  I  was  doing. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

What  dost  thou  think  Priam  would  have  done 
if  he  had  accomplished  all  this  ? 

AGAMEMNON 

Oh,  I  think  he  would  have  walked  on  the  em- 
broideries. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Do  not  now  pay  so  much  regard  to  the  cen- 
sure of  men. 

AGAMEMNON 

But  a  voice  uttered  by  the  people  has  mighty 
power. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

The  man  who  is  unenvied  is  not  a  man  to  be 
envied. 

AGAMEMNON 

940        It  is  not  a  woman's  way  to  be  so  eager  for  a 
quarrel. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

But  it  becomes  men  in  high  prosperity    even 
to  submit  to  conquest. 

AGAMEMNON 

Is  that  the  kind  of  conquest  that  thou  holdest 
in  honor  ? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  75 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
εϊπερ  τις,  ειδώς  γ  ευ  τόδ'  εζείπον  τέλος. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 
935      τί  δ'  αν  δοκεΐ  crot,  Τίρίαμος,  ει  τάδ'  τ7*/'υσ'€Ι/  ; 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
εν  ποικίλους  αν  κάρτα  μοι  βήναι,  δοκεΐ. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
μη  ννν  τον  άνθρώπειον  αίδεσθης  φόγον. 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
φήμη  γε  μεντοι  δημόθρους  μέγα  σθενει. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 
6  δ'  άφθόνητός  y   ουκ  επίζηλος  πελει. 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
94°      ovtol  γυναικός  εστίν  ιμείρειν  μάχης. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 
τοϊς  δ'  ολβιοις  γε  καϊ  το  νικασθαι  πρέπει. 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
η  κα\  συ  νίκην  τηνδε  δηριος  τίεις  ; 


76  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 
Obey  me.     Be  willing  to  let  me  have  my  way. 

AGAMEMNON 

Well,  if  this  is  what  thou  dost  wish,  let  some 
one  quickly  loose  the  slavish  sandals  on  which 
my  feet  tread ;  and  while  I  walk  on  these  purple 
robes,  let  no  jealousy  from  the  eye  of  any  of  the 
Gods  strike  me  from  afar.  For  I  feel  much 
shame  at  my  effeminacy  in  trampling  under  foot 
this  wealth  and  these  costly  webs.  So  much  for 
950  this.  But  take  in  kindly  this  foreign  woman. 
God  looks  from  afar  with  kindness  on  the  gentle 
conqueror,  for  no  one  willingly  wears  the  yoke  of 
slavery.  But  she,  the  chosen  flower  of  much 
wealth,  the  gift  of  the  army,  has  accompanied 
me.  Well,  since  I  am  compelled  to  obey  thee  in 
this,  I  will  pass  beneath  my  roof  tree,  treading 
upon  purple. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

There  is  an  ocean,  —  who  shall  drain  it  dry  ?  — 
which  affords  ever  afresh  the  plenteous  juice  of 
960  purple,  precious  as  silver,  to  dye  our  robes;  and 
the  house,  with  God's  blessing,  Ο  king,  is  well 
supplied  with  this  ;  this  palace  knows  no  poverty. 
Indeed  I  would  have  vowed  the  trampling  of  many 
robes,  had  this  been  offered  to  our  house  in  oracles 
when  I  was  devising  votive  gifts  for  the  safety  of 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  η  η 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 
πιθον  '   κράτος  μεντοι  πάρες  y   εκών  εμοί. 


ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

αλλ'  εΐ  δοκεΐ  σοι  ταύθ\  ύπαί  τις  αρβύλας 
945      λύοι  τάχος,  πρόδουλον  εμβασιν  ποδός. 

καϊ  τοΐσδε  μ    εμβαίνονθ'  άλουργεσιν  θέων 
μη  τις  πρόσωθεν  όμματος  βάλοι  φθόνος, 
πολλή  γαρ  αιδώς  σωματοφθορεϊν  ποσίν 
φθείροντα  πλούτον  αργυρωνήτους  θ*  ύφάς. 
95°     τούτων  μεν  ούτως  ■   την  ζενην  δε  πρευμενως 
τηνδ*  εσκόμιζε  •   τον  κρατούντα  μαλθακώς 
θεός  πρόσωθεν  ευμενώς  προσδερκεται. 
εκών  yap  ουδείς  δουλίω  χρήται  ζυγω. 
αυτΐ7  δβ,  πολλών  χρημάτων  εζαίρετον 
955      άνθος,  στρατού  δώρημ',  εμοί  ζυνεσπετο. 
επεί  δ*  άκούειν  σού  κατεστ ραμμαι  τάδε, 
εϊμ   ες  δόμων  μελαθρα  πορφύρας  πάτων. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

εστίν  θάλασσα,  τις  δε  νιν  κατασβεσει ; 
τρεφουσα  πολλής  πορφύρας  Ισάργυρον 
960      κηκϊδα  παγκαίνιστον,  ειμάτων  βαφάς. 
οίκος  δ'  υπάρχει  τωνδε  συν  θεοϊς,  άνας, 
εχειν  •   πενεσθαι  δ'  ουκ  επίσταται  δόμος, 
πολλών  πατησμον  δ*  είμάτων  αν  ηύζάμην, 
δόμοισι  προυνεγθεντος  εν  χρηστηρίοις, 


78  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


this  soul.  For  while  the  root  remains,  foliage 
spreads  over  the  house,  spreading  its  shade 
against  the  fierceness  of  the  dog-star.  So  when 
thou  hast  returned  to  thy  house  and  home,  thou 
art  like  warmth  appearing  in  winter;  and  when 
970  Zeus  is  maturing  the  wine  from  the  unripe  grape, 
then  it  is  like  refreshing  cool  in  the  house  when 
the  lord  and  master  walks  through  his  home.  Ο 
Zeus,  Zeus  who  dost  accomplish  all,  bring  my 
prayers  to  pass;  and  mayest  thou  have  a  care  for 
what  thou  art  about  to  work. 

CHORUS 

Why  does  this  flitting  phantom  continually 
hover  before  my  foreboding  heart ;  and  why 
does  my  song  become  prophetic,  unbidden  and 
980  unrewarded  ?  And  why  do  I  not  spurn  all  this 
like  indistinguishable  dreams,  and  let  confident 
courage  sit  on  the  dear  throne  of  my  soul  ? 

7(t  7|C  ^*  ^P  "Φ  *f* 

—  when  the  naval  host  set  forth  for  Troy. 

And  now  I  learn  of  their  return  with  my  own 

eyes,   being   myself    a   witness.     But   my    heart 

within    me,    self-taught,    nevertheless    sings    the 

990    Furies'  lyreless  dirge,  not  having  at  all  the  dear 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  79 

965      Ψυχν$  κόμιστρα  τησδε  μηγανωμενη. 

ρίζης  γαρ  ούσης  φυλλάς  ικ€τ   ες  δόμους, 
σκιάν  ύπερτείνασα  σειρίου  κυνός. 
καϊ  σου  μολόντος  δωματίτιν  εστίαν, 
θάλπος  μεν  εν  χβίμώνι,  σημαίνεις  μολόν  • 

97°      όταν  δε  τεύχη  Ζευς  απ*  όμφακος  πίκρας 
οινον,  τότ   ηδη  ψύχος  εν  δόμοις  πελει, 
ανδρός  τελείου  δώμ*  επιστρωφωμενου. 
Ζευ  Ζευ  τέλειε,  τας  εμάς  εύχάς  τέλει  ■ 
μελοι  δε  τοι  σοι  τωνπερ  αν  μελλης  τελείν. 

XOPOS 

975      τίπτε  μοι  τόδ'  εμπεδως  Str.  ι 

δείγμα  προστατηριον 

καρδίας  τερασκόπου  ποτάται, 

μαντιπολεΐ  δ'  άκελευστος  άμισθος  άοιδά, 
980      ούδ'  άποπτύσας  δίκαν 

δυσκρίτων  όνειράτων 

θάρσος  εύπιθες  ϊζει 

φρενός  φίλον  θρόνον  ;      t  χρόνος  δ'  επει 

πρυμνησίων  ζυνεμβολαϊς 
985      ι//αμ.μ,ιας  άκάτα  παρήβησεν,  t  ευθ*  υπ*  "ίλιον 

ωρτο  ναυβάτας  στρατός. 

πεύθομαι  δ*  απ*  ομμάτων  Ant.  ι 

νόστον,  αύτόμαρτυς  ων  ■ 
99°     τον  δ'  άνευ  λύρας  όμως  ύμνωδει 

θρηνον  Έρινυος  αυτοδίδακτος  εσωθεν 


8o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


confidence  of  hope.  And  my  inward  parts  do 
not  divine  in  vain,  as  my  heart  is  whirled  by  fatal 
currents  upon  my  justly  foreboding  breast.  But 
I  pray  that,  contrary  to  my  forebodings,  it  may 

iooo  all  prove  false,  so  as  never  to  be  accomplished. 

The  limits  of  great  prosperity  are  ever  insati- 
ate ;  for  disease  is  always  pressing  as  a  next-door 
neighbor,  and  the  fate  of  man  in  its  onward 
course  often  strikes  a  hidden  reef.  Then  the  re- 
luctant  master    casts   away  a   part   of    his   rich 

ioio  cargo,  and  by  a  moderate  sacrifice  saves  his 
whole  house  from  falling,  though  weighed  down 
too  deeply  with  woe,  and  his  ship  from  sinking ; 
and  the  bountiful  gifts,  which  come  in  abundance 
from  Zeus  and  from  the  harvests  of  the  next 
year,  ward  off  the  disease  of  famine. 

1020  But  when  the  life-blood  of  a  man  has  once 
fallen  to  the  ground,  who  by  any  charms  can 
recall  it  ?  Otherwise  Zeus  never  would,  by  way 
of  caution,  have  checked  him  who  rightly  knew 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  8 1 

θυμός,  ου  το  πάν  έχων 

ελπίδος  φίλον  θράσος. 
995  σπλάγχνα  δ'  ούτι  ματάζει 

προς  ενδίκοις  φρ€σϊν  τελεσφόρους 

διι^αις  κυκλούμενον  κεαρ. 

εύχομαι  δ*  ίζ  εμάς  ελπίδος  ψύθη  πεσεΐν 
ιοοο  cs  το  μη  τελεσφόρον. 

μάλα  γε  τοι  το  μεγάλας  ύγιίας  Str.  2 

άκόρεστον  τέρμα,      νόσος  γαρ  άει 
γείτων  ομότοιχος  ερείοει, 
ιοο5  καΐ  πότμος  ευθυπορών 

$£  $£  Φ  •5ρ  Φ:  ι|γ 

ανδρός  επαισεζ^  αφαντον  έρμα, 

και  το  μεν  προ  χρημάτων 

κτησίων  όκνος  βαλων 
ιοιο  σφεντόνας  απ*  ευμέτρου, 

ουκ  εδυ  πρόπας  δό/χος 

πημονάς  γεμων  αγαι^, 

ούδ'  επόντισε  σκάφος. 
ιοΐ5  πολλά  τοι  δοο~ις  εκ  Διός  α/χ- 

φιλαφης  τε  και  εζ  άλόκων  επετειάν 

νηστιν  ωλεσεν  νόσον. 

το  δ'  ε'πί  γάν  πεσόν  άπαξ  θανάσιμον        Ant.  2 
1020  προπάροιθ*  άνορος  μελαν  αί/χα  τις  αι> 

πάλιν  άγκαλεσαιτ   επαείοων  ; 
ουδέ  τόϊ>  ορθοδαή 
των  φθ  ι  μεν  ων  άνάγειν 

AGAMEMNON  —  6 


82  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

how  to  raise  the  dead.  But  did  I  not  feel  that 
one  fate  fixed  by  the  Gods  might  prevent  another 
fate  from  gaining  more  than  its  right,  my  heart 
would  anticipate  my  tongue  and  pour  forth  all 
1030  that  it  could  say  ;  but  as  it  is,  it  moans  in  dark- 
ness, sorely  grieved,  and  having  no  hope  that  it 
will  ever  unravel  anything  that  is  timely,  while 
my  soul  burns  within  me. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Take  yourself  in  too,  —  I  mean  you,  Cas- 
sandra, —  since  Zeus  has  ordained,  not  in  wrath, 
that  you  should  be  a  sharer  in  the  holy  water 
of  this  house,  standing  with  many  slaves  near  the 
household  altar.  Dismount  from  that  chariot, 
1040  do  not  be  too  proud  ;  for  they  say  that  once  even 
the  son  of  Alcmene  endured  to  be  sold  and  to  eat 
the  bread  of  slavery.  If  now  the  necessity  of  this 
fortune  should  fall  to  one's  lot,  it  is  a  great  boon 
to  have  masters  of  ancient  wealth ;  but  they  who 
have  reaped  a  rich  harvest  they  never  hoped  for 
are  savage  to  their  slaves  in  every  way,  even  be- 
yond measure.  You  have  what  you  may  expect 
from  us. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

It  is  a  plain  speech  which  she  has  just  spoken 
to  thee.  Since  thou  art  now  within  the  meshes 
of  fate,  thou  canst  obey  if  thou  seest  fit ;  perhaps 
thou  mayest  please  to  disobey. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  83 

Ζευς  αν  επαυσεν  £π   ευλάβεια. 
ιο25         ei  δε  μη  τεταγμένα 

μοίρα  μοίραν  εκ  θεών 

εΧργε  μη  πλέον  φερειν, 

προφθάσασα  καρδία 

γλώσσαν  αν  τάδ'  εζεγει. 
ιοτ,ο         νυν  δ'  ύπο  σκότω  βρεμει 

θυμαλγης  τε  και  ουδέν  επελ- 

πομενα  ποτέ  καίριον  εκτολυπεύσειν, 

ζωπυρουμενας  φρενός. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

ιο35         είσω  κομίζου  καΐ  σύ,  Κασάνδραν  λέγω, 
επεί  σ   εθηκε  Ζευς  άμηνίτως  δόμους 
κοινωνον  είναι  γερνίβων,  πολλών  μετά 
δούλων  σταθεΐσαν  κτησίον  βωμού  πελας  • 
εκβαιν   απήνης  τησδε,  μηδ*  ύπερφρόνει. 

1040         και  παιδα  yap  tol  φασίν  Αλκμήνης  ποτέ 
πραθεντα  τληναι  δονλίας  μάζης  τυγείν. 
ει  δ*  ουν  ανάγκη  τήσδ*  επιρρεποι  τύχης, 
άργαιοπλούτων  δεσποτών  πολλή  χάρις, 
οι  δ'  οϋποτ  ελπίσαντες  η  μη  σαν  καλώς, 

ιο45         ώμοι  τε  δούλους  πάντα  και  παρά  στάθμην. 
έχεις  παρ'  ημών  οϊάπερ  νομίζεται. 

XOPOS 

σοι  τοι  λέγουσα  παύεται  σαφή  λογον. 
εντός  δ'  αν  ούσα  μορσίμων  αγρευματων 
πείθοι   αν,  ει  πείθοι  •    άπειθοίης  δ'  ιο~ω«?. 


84  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

1050  But  if  she  is  not  like  a  swallow,  possessed  of 
some  unknown  barbarian  tongue,  then  speaking 
within  her  apprehension  I  must  persuade  her  by 
my  words. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Follow  her.  She  gives  thee  the  best  advice 
thou  canst  have.  Obey  her  and  leave  this  seat  in 
the  chariot. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

I  have  no  leisure  to  wait  here  at  the  gate ;  for 
the  victims  now  stand  ready  for  the  sacrifice  of 
fire  at  the  central  hearth,  for  us  who  never  ex- 
pected to  have  this  joy.  If  you  will  do  anything 
that  I  tell  you,  make  no  delay ;  but  if  you  do  not 
1060  understand  me  and  take  in  my  words,  then  speak 
with  your  barbarian  hand  instead  of  your  voice. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

The  strange  woman  seems  to  need  a  skilful 
interpreter ;  but  her  manner  is  like  that  of  a 
newly  captured  beast. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Surely  she  is  mad  and  listens  to  evil  thoughts, 
she  who  has  left  the  newly  captured  city  and 
come  hither;  but  she  knows  not  how  to  endure 
the  bit  until  she  has  foamed  away  her  strength  in 
blood.  I,  however,  will  not  disgrace  myself  by 
wasting  more  words  on  her. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  85 


KAYTAIMHSTPA 


1050         αλλ*  εϊπερ  εστί  μη  χελιδόνος  8ίκην 
άγνώτα  φωνην  βάρβαρον  κεκτημένη, 
έσω  φρένων  λέγουσα  πείθω  νιν  λόγω. 


XOPOS 

έπου.     τα  λωστα  των  παρεστώτων  λέγει, 
πίθου  λιπουσα  τόνο*  άμαξήρη  θρόνον. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

ιο55         ούτοι  θυραίαν  τηο*  εμοί  σχολή  πάρα 

τρίβειν  •   τα  μεν  γαρ  εστίας  μεσομφάλου 
εστηκεν  ή$η  μήλα  προς  σφαγάς  πυρός, 
ως  ουποτ  ΙΚττίσασι  τήνο*  εζειν  χάριν, 
συ  δ'  ει  τι  οράσεις  τωνδε,  μη  σχολην  τίθει. 

ιοβο         ει  δ'  άζυνημων  ούσα  μη  *οέχει  λόγον, 

συ  δ'  αντί  φωνής  φράζε  καρβάνω  χ^ρί. 

XOPOS 

ερμηνεως  έοικεν  η  ζένη  τορου 

ΰεΐσθαι-   τρόπος  δβ  θηρος  ως  νεαιρέτου. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

η  μαίνεται  γε  καΐ  κακών  κλύει  φρενών, 
1065         ήτις  λιπουσα  μεν  πόλιν  νεαίρετον 

ηκει,  χαλινον  δ'  ουκ  επίσταται  φέρειν, 
πριν  αιματηρον  εξαφρίζεσθαι  μένος, 
ου  μην  πλέω  ρίφασ*  άτιμασθησομαι. 


86  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

I  pity  thee  and  will  not  be  angry.    Go,  wretched 
1070  one  ;    leave   the  chariot,   yield  to  this  necessity, 
and  bow  thy  neck  beneath  the  new  yoke. 

CASSANDRA 

Oh,  woe  is  me  !  Alas  !  Alas  !  Oh,  Apollo  ! 
Oh,  Apollo ! 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Why  hast  thou  uttered  these  shrieks  to  Loxias? 
It  is  not  for  him  to  hearken  to  a  mourner's  wail- 
ing. 

CASSANDRA 

Oh,  woe  is  me  !  Alas  !  Alas  !  Oh,  Apollo  ! 
Oh,  Apollo! 

CHORUS    LEADER 

She  in  her  ill-spoken  words  calls  upon  the  God 
who  must  not  be  present  at  lamentations. 

CASSANDRA 

1080       Apollo,   Apollo!    God  of  streets,   my   Apollo! 
Thou  hast  ruined  me  utterly  for  the  second  time. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

She  seems  to  be  about  to  prophesy  of  her  own 
coming  woes ;  the  divine  spirit  remains  even  in 
her  enslaved  mind. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  87 

XOPOS 

εγω  S\  εποικτίρω  γαρ,  ου  θυμώσομαι. 
1070         W,  ω  τάΧαινα,  τόνδ'  ερημώσασ*  οχον, 
εικουσ*  άνάγκτ)  ττ)δε  καίνισον  ζυγόν. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ότοτοτοτοϊ  ποποι  δα.  Str.  1 

ωποΧΧον  ωποΧΧον. 

XOPOS 

τί  ταυτ   άνωτότυξας  άμφι  Αοζίου ; 
ιο75         ου  γαρ  τοιούτος  ώστε  θρηνητου  τυγειν. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ότοτοτοτοϊ  ποποΐ  δά.  Ant.  ι 

ωποΧΧον  ωποΧΧον. 

XOPOS 

ή  δ'  αυτέ  δυσφημούσα  τον  θεον  καΧεΐ 
ουδέν  προσήκοντ*  εν  γόοίς  παραστατεΐν. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιο8ο  ΑποΧΧον   ΑποΧΧον  Str.  2 

άγυιάτ   άπόΧΧων  εμός. 
άπώΧεσας  γαρ  ου  μόΧίς  το  δεύτερον. 

XOPOS 

χρησει,ν  εοικεν  άμφι  των  αύτης  κακών, 
μένει  το  θείον  δουΧία  περ  εν  φρενί. 


88  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CASSANDRA 

Apollo,  Apollo  !  God  of  streets,  my  Apollo ! 
Ah,  whither  hast  thou  brought  me?  To  what 
roof  ? 

CHORUS    LEADER 

To  the  Atreidae's  roof ;  if  thou  dost  not  know 
that,  I  can  tell  thee.  This  thou  wilt  not  say  is 
false. 

CASSANDRA 

1^90  Nay,  a  god-detested  roof,  conscious  of  many 
things ;  here  are  horrors  of  kindred  slaughter, 
here  are  nooses,  a  human  slaughter-house,  and  a 
floor  reeking  with  blood. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

The  strange  woman  seems  to  be  quick-scented, 
like  a  dog ;  and  she  is  searching  for  those  whose 
murder  she  can  trace  out. 

CASSANDRA 

Yes,  for  I  am  persuaded  by  these  testimonies. 
Look  at  those  children  bewailing  their  own 
slaughter  and  their  roasted  flesh  which  their 
father  has  tasted! 

CHORUS    LEADER 

In  truth  we  had  heard  of  thy  prophetic  fame ; 
but  we  want  no  prophets  here. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  89 

ΚΑ^ΑΝΔΡΑ 

1085   "Απολλον  "Απολλον  Ant.  2 

άγυιατ   άπόλλων  εμός. 
ά  ποΐ  ποτ'  ηγαγες  με;      προς  ποίαν  στεγην  ; 

XOPOS 

προς  την  Ατρειδών  •    et  συ  μη  τό&*  εννοείς, 
εγω  λέγω  σοι-    καί  τάδ'  ουκ  ερεΐς  ψύθη. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

1090    μισόθεον  μεν  ονν,  πολλά  σννίστορα  •  Str.  3 

αντοφόνα  κακά  και  άρταναι, 
άνοροσφαγεϊον  καί  πεοορραντήριον. 

XOPOS 

εοικεν  ενρις  η  ζενη  κννος  ΰίκην 
είναι,  ματενει  δ'  ων  άνενρήσει  φόνον. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιο95    μαρτνρίοισι  γαρ  τοίσο'  επιπείθομαι*  Ant.  3 

κλαωμενα  τάδε  βρέφη  σφαγάς 
οπτάς  τε  σάρκας  προς  πατρός  βεβρωμενας. 

XOPOS 

η  μην  κλέος  σον  μαντικον  πεπυσμενοι 
ημεν,  προφήτας  δ'  ουτινας  ματενομεν. 


90  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CASSANDRA 

iioo  Oh  woe  is  me!  What  is  she  plotting?  What 
is  this  new  great  grief,  this  mighty  evil  that  she 
is  plotting  in  this  house,  unbearable  for  friends, 
hopeless  ?  —  and  all  help  stands  afar. 


CHORUS    LEADER 

I  do  not  understand  these  divinations ;  but  the 
others  I  understood  :  the  whole  city  rings  with 
them. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas,  wretched  woman  ;    what !    wilt  thou    do 

this  deed  ?  having  welcomed  thy  wedded  husband 

ι  no  with  the  bath,  —  how  can  I  tell  the  end?     But  it 

will  quickly  come ;    and    she   extends  one  hand 

after  another. 

CHORUS   LEADER 

I  have  not  yet  understood  ;  after  thy  riddles  I 
am  perplexed  by  thy  dim  divinations. 


CASSANDRA 

Ah,  alas,  alas!  What  is  this  that  I  see  ?  Is  it 
a  net  of  Hades  ?  The  net  is  the  wife,  the  ac- 
complice in  murder.  Now  let  the  insatiate  band 
utter  a  shriek  over  this  race  for  a  sacrifice  that 
merits  stoning. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  91 

ΚΑ^ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιιοο    Ιω  πόποι,  τί  ποτέ  μήδεται ;  Str.  4 

τί  τόδε  νέον  άγος  μέγα 
μεγ'  Ιν  δομ,οκτι  τοισδε  μήΰεται  κακόν 
άφερτον  φίλοισιν,  Svctloltov  ;      άλκα  δ' 
εκάς  αποστατεί. 

XOPOS 

1105    τούτων  άϊ$ρίς  α/χι  τώ^  μαντενμάτων. 
εκείνα  δ'  εγνων   πάσα  γάρ  πόλις  βοα. 

ΚΑΞΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιώ  τάλαινα,  τοδε  yap  τελείς,  Ant.  4 

τ6^  ομοΰέμνιον  πόσιν 

λοντροΐνι  φαι$ρύνασα  —  πως  φράσω  τέλος ; 
1 1  ίο    τάχος  γαρ  τό5'  έσται  •   προτείνει  δε  χειρ'  ε'κ 
χζρος  ορεγομενα. 

XOPOS 

ούπω  ζννηκα'   νυν  γαρ  εζ  αινιγμάτων 
επαργεμοισι  θεσφάτοις  άμηχανώ. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

€17,  παπαΐ  παποί,  τι  τόδε  φαίνεται;  Str.  5 

1115    ^  otfcruw  τιΛΑιδου; 

αλλ'  άρκνς  η  ζύνεννος,  η  ζνναιτία 
φόνου,  στάσις  δ*  αφόρετος  γένει 
κατο\ο\νζάτω  θύματος  λενσίμον. 


92  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

What  is    this   avenging  Fury  that    thou    dost 
1120  summon  to  raise  her  cry  over  this  house?     Thy 
words  do  not  delight  me.     The  drop  of  saffron 
blood  rushes  back  to  my  heart ;  .    .    .    and  mis- 
fortune strides  apace. 

CASSANDRA 

Ah,  look  there !  look  there  !  Protect  the  bull 
from  the  cow !  Having  entangled  her  black- 
horned  victim  in  the  robes  by  stratagem,  she 
smites  him,  and  he  falls  in  the  urn  of  water.  It 
is  the  fortune  of  a  murderously  deceitful  caldron 
that  I  am  telling  you. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

1 130  I  cannot  boast  to  be  a  skilled  interpreter  of 
oracles  ;  but  this  bodes  some  calamity.  But  what 
good  word  ever  comes  to  mortals  from  oracles  ? 
For  through  a  course  of  evils  their  wordy  arts 
bring  men  to  know  oracular  fear. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas,  alas,  the  wretched  fortunes  of  me 
miserable  !  Now  I  speak  of  my  own  affliction, 
pouring  this  into  the  cup  of  woe.  To  what 
end  didst  thou  bring  me,  wretched  one,  hither? 
For  nothing  except  to  die  with  thee.  For  what 
else  ? 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  93 

XOPOS 

ττοίαν  Έρινύν  τηνδε  δώμασυν  κε'λει 
1120    Ιττορθιάζειν ;      ου  με  φαιδρύνει  λόγος, 
επί  δε  καρδίαν  εοραμε  κροκοβαφης 
σταγών,  far  ε  καιρία  πτώσιμος 
ζυνανύτει  βίου  δύντος  auycu5.t 
ταγεία  δ'  άτα  πε'λει. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιΐ25    άά,  ιδού  ιδού-    απεγε  τάς  /3οός  Ant.  5 

tw  ταυρον   εν  πεπλοισι 
μελαγκερων  λαβουσα  μηχανήματι 
τύπτει•   ττίτνει  δ*  εν  ενύδρω  κύτει. 
δολοφόνου  λεβητος  τυγαν  σοι  λέγω. 

XOPOS 

1 130    ου  κομπάσαιμ'  αν  θεσφάτων  γνωμών  άκρος 

είναι,  κακω  δε  τω  προσεικάζω  τάδε. 

άπο  δε  θεσφάτων  τίς  aya^a  φάτις 

βροτοίς  τε'λλεται ;      κακών  γαρ  δια! 

πολυεπεΐς  τεγναι  θζσπιωδον 
1 1 35    φόβον  φερουσιν  μαθεΐν. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

Ιω  ίω  ταλαίνας  κακόποτμοι  τύχαι  •  Str.  6 

το  γαρ  εμον  θροώ  πάθος  επεγχεασα. 
ττοί  δη  με  δευρο  την  τάλαιναν  ηγαγες ; 
οϋδεν  ττοτ   εΐ  μη  ζυνθ  ανουμενην .      τί  γαρ ; 


94  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

1 140  Thou  art  distracted  by  divine  madness,  and 
about  thyself  thou  dost  utter  an  unmelodious 
song ;  as  some  tawny  nightingale  insatiate  of 
wailing,  alas,  from  her  wretched  soul  with 
a  cry  of  "  Itys,  Itys,"  bewails  her  life  which  is 
blossoming  with  sorrows. 

CASSANDRA 

Oh,  alas  for  the  fate  of  the  clear-voiced 
nightingale !  For  the  Gods  have  given  her  a 
winged  body  and  a  sweet  life  without  weeping ; 
but  there  awaits  me  to  be  cleft  by  the  two-edged 
sword. 

CHORUS   LEADER 

1 150  Whence  come  these  vain  pangs  that  rush 
upon  thee  through  some  divine  power  ?  Why 
dost  thou  strike  these  terrible  notes  with  ill- 
omened  cries,  and  likewise  in  shrillest  strains  ? 
Why  dost  thou  keep  to  these  ill-boding  ways 
of  the  prophetic   road  ? 

CASSANDRA 

Alas  for  the  nuptials  of  Paris,  destructive  to 
his  friends !  Alas  for  the  Scamander,  from 
which  my  fathers  drank !  Once  as  a  child  I 
1 160  was  reared  upon  thy  banks;  but  now  on  the 
banks  of  Cocytus  and  of  Acheron  I  seem 
likely    soon   to    sing   my    prophetic    song. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 


XOPOS 


95 


1 140    φρενομανης  τις  €i  θεοφόρητος,  άμφί  δ*  αύτάς  θροείς 
νόμον  άνομον,  οΐά  τις  ζουθά 
άκόρετος  βοάς,  φευ,  ταλαίναις  φρεσίν 
*Ιτυν    Ιτυν  στενουσ   αμφιθαλή  κακοϊς 

"45    άτ^δώ^  βίον. 


ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιώ  ιώ  λίγείας  μόρον  άηδόνος•  Ant.  6 

περεβαλον  γαρ  οι  πτεροφόρον  δέμας 
θεοί  γλυκύν  τ'  αιώνα  κλαυμάτων  άτερ' 
εμοϊ  δε  μίμνει  σχισ/χός  άμφηκει  δορί. 

XOPOS 

1 150    πόθεν  επισσύτους  θεοφόρους  τ  έχεις  ματαίους  δυας, 
τα  δ'  επίφοβα  δυσφάτω  κλαγγά 
μελοτυπεϊς  ομού  τ'  όρθίοις  εν  νόμοις; 
πόθεν  ορούς  έχεις  θεσπέσιας  οδού 

ιΐ55     κακό  ρ  ρη μονάς; 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

ιώ  γάμοι  γάμοι  ΤΙάριδος  ολέθριοι  φίλων.  Str.  7 

ιώ  Σκαμάνδρου  πάτριον  ποτόν. 
τότε  μεν  άμφϊ  σας  άϊόνας  τάλαιν' 
ηνυτόμαν  τροφαϊς- 
ιι6ο    νυν  δ'  άμφί  Κωκυτόν  τε  κάχερουσίους 
όχθους  εοικα  θεσπιωδησειν  τάχα. 


96  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

What  is  this  too  true  word  that  thou  hast 
uttered  ?  Even  a  young  child  could  understand 
this.  But  I  am  smitten  with  a  deadly  sting  when 
through  thy  grievous  fortune  thou  utterest  thy 
tale  of  woe  which  it  shatters  me  to  hear. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas,  alas,  for  my  city,  utterly  destroyed ! 
Alas  for  my  father's  sacrifice  of  many  herds  of 
1 1 70  grazing  cattle  to  save  his  towers!  But  they 
afforded  no  help  to  save  his  city  from  suffering 
as  it  did  ;  and  I  with  my  burning  soul  must  soon 
fall  to  the  ground. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Thou  hast  uttered  this  in  accordance  with 
what  thou  hast  said  before ;  and  some  God 
with  thoughts  of  evil,  descending  upon  thee 
with  heavy  weight,  drives  thee  to  sing  of  these 
grievous  deadly  sufferings.  But  I  am  helpless 
to  divine  the    end. 

CASSANDRA 

My  oracle  shall  no  longer  look  forth  from 
beneath  her  veil,  like  a  newly  wedded  bride ; 
1 1 80  but  now  it  appears  ready  to  burst  forth  with  a 
clear  blast  to  the  rising  sun,  so  that  a  woe  much 
greater  than  this  shall  dash  up  like  a  wave 
into  his  rays.     And   I   will  teach  you  no  longer 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  97 

XOPOS 

τι  roBe  τορον  ayav  έπος  εφημίσω ; 
νεογνος  ανθρώπων  μάθοι. 
πεπληγμαι  δ*  ύπαΐ  δά/cei  φοινίω 
1 165    Βυσαλγεϊ  τύχα  μινυρά  θρεομένας, 
θραύματ   εμοι  κλύειν. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

Ιω  πόνου  πόνου  πόλεος  ολομενας  το  παν.  Ant.  7 

ίώ  πρόπνργου  θυσίαυ  πατρός 
πολυκανεΐς  βοτών  ποιονόμων   ακος  ο 
1 170    ονδεν  επηρκεσαν 

το  μη  πόλιν  μεν  ώσπερ  ονν  έχει  παθεΐν. 
t  €γώ  δε  θερμόνους  τάχ   εν  πεδω  βαλώΛ 

XOPOS 

επόμενα  προτεροισι  τάδ'  εφημίσω. 
καί  τις  σε  κακοφρονών  τίθη- 
ιι 75    σι  Βαίμων  υπέρβαρης  εμπίτνων 
μελίζειν  πάθη  γοερά  θανατοφορα. 
τέρμα  δ'  άμηχανώ. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

και  μην  6  χρησμός  ούκετ   εκ  καλυμμάτων 
εσται  ΰεΰορκως  νεογάμου  νύμφης  ΰίκην 
ιι8ο    λάμπρος  δ'  εοικεν  ηλίου  προς  άντολας 
πνέω'  εσάζειν,  ώστε  κύματος  c  ικην 
κλύζειν  προς  αύγάς  τούδε  πηματος  πολύ 

AGAMEMNON  —  7 


98  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

by  riddles.  Bear  witness  to  me  as  I  closely 
scent  the  track  of  evils  which  have  been  wrought 
of  old.  There  is  a  band  that  never  leaves  this 
roof,  concordant,  but  not  harmonious,  for  it 
speaks  no  good ;  and  having  drunk  of  human 
blood  so  as  to  be  still  more  emboldened,  this 
1 190  band  of  revellers  abides  in  this  house,  hard  to 
be  expelled,  this  band  of  kindred  Furies.  And 
as  they  sit  upon  the  roof  tree  they  sing  their 
song  of  the  primeval  curse ;  and  in  turn  they 
spurn  with  loathing  the  brother's  bed,  hostile 
to  him  who  defiled  it.  Am  I  wrong,  or  like  a 
good  archer  do  I  hit  my  mark  ?  Or  am  I  a 
false  prophet,  a  vagrant  babbler  ?  Bear  witness 
on  your  oath  that  I  know  the  story  of  the  ancient 
crimes  of  this  house. 


CHORUS    LEADER 

How   can   an   oath,    a   security   firmly   given, 

prove  healing  here  ?     But  I  am   surprised  that 

1200  thou,  reared    beyond    the    sea,    dost   chance   to 

speak  of  this  foreign  city  as  if  thou  hadst  always 

lived  in   it. 

CASSANDRA 
The  prophet  Apollo  appointed  me  to  this  duty. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Can  it  be  that  the  God  was  smitten  with  love  of 
thee  ? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  99 

μείζον  '   φρενώσω  δ'  ουκετ   ές  αινιγμάτων . 
και  μαρτυρείτε  συνδρόμων  ίχνος  κακών 

1 185    ρινηλατούση  των  πάλαι  πεπραγμένων. 

την  γάρ  στεγην  τήνο*  ουποτ   εκλείπει  χορός 
σύμφθογγος  ουκ  εϋφωνος-    ου  γάρ  ευ  λέγει, 
και  μην  πεπωκώς  γ\  ως  θρασύνεσθαι  πλέον, 
βρότειον  αί/χα  κώμος  εν  δόμοις  μένει, 

ιΐ9°    δύσπεμπτος  εζω,  συγγόνων  *Έ*ρινύων. 
ύμνουαι  δ*  υμνον  οώμασιν  προσημεναι 
πρώταργρν  άτην   εν  μέρει  δ*  άπεπτυσαν 
ευνάς  αδελφοί)  τω  πατουντι  δυσμενείς, 
ημαρτον,  η  θηρω  τι  τοξότης  τις  ως ; 

1 195  η  ψευδό  μαντίς  ει/χι  θυροκόπος  φλέδων ; 
εκμαρτύρησον  προυμόσας  το  μ*  etoeVat 
λόγω  παλαιάς  τωνδ*  αμαρτίας  δόμων. 

XOPOS 

καΐ  πως  άν  όρκος,  πήγμα  γενναίως  παγεν, 
παιώνιον  γένοιτο ;      θαυμάζω  δε  σε 
ΐ2οο    πόντου  πέραν  τραφεισαν  άλλόθρουν  πολιι/ 
κυρείν  λεγουσαν,  ωσπερ  ει  παρεστατεις. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
μάντις  μ  Απόλλων  τωδ'  επεστησεν  τέλει. 

XOPOS 
μων  και  θεός  περ  ιμέρω  πεπληγμενος ; 


ioo  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CASSANDRA 
Once  I  was  ashamed  to  speak  of  this. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Yes,  every  one  when    he    is   in   prosperity   is 
more  delicate. 

CASSANDRA 

Yes,  he  was  a  suitor  who  breathed  upon  me 
with  great  favor. 

CHORUS    LEADER 
Didst  thou  ever  consent  to  bear  children  to  him  ? 

CASSANDRA 
I  assented  to  Loxias,  but  deceived  him. 

CHORUS    LEADER 
Wert  thou  already  possessed  of  prophetic  arts  ? 

CASSANDRA 

1210       I   already   predicted    to    my    citizens    all   their 
sufferings. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Then  how   didst   thou   escape   unpunished  by 
the  wrath  of    Loxias  ? 

CASSANDRA 

I  could  make  no  one  believe  anything,  because 
I  had  done  him  this  wrong. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ιοί 

■■'- : 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
προτού  μεν  αιδώς  ην  εμ,οϊ  \εγειν  τάοε. 

XOPOS 
1205    άβρννεται  γαρ  πας  τις  ευ  πράσσων  πλέον. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
αλλ*  ην  παλαιστής  κάρτ   εμοί  πνέων  γάριν. 

XOPOS 
η  και  τέκνων  είς  έργον  ήλθετην  νόμω ; 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ζυναιν€σασα  Αοζίαν  εψενσάμ,ην. 

XOPOS 
τ/δτ;  τεχναισιν  ενθεοις  ηρημενη ; 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ΐ2ΐο    ήδη  πολίταις  πάντ   εθεσπιζον  πάθη. 

XOPOS 
πως  §ήτ   ανατος  ησθα  Κοζίου  κότω  ; 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
επειθον  ovhiv    ουδέν,  ώς  τάδ'  ήμπλακον. 


io2  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Thou  seemst  to  us  at  least  to  divine  things  that 
are  credible. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas,  alas  !  Oh,  woes  !  Oh,  woes !  Again  the 
terrible  suffering  of  true  divination  torments 
me  by  these  bewildering  preludes.  Do  you  see 
those  children  sitting  by  the  house,  like  to 
forms  of  dreams?  There  they  are,  children 
murdered  as  it  were  by  their  own  friends,  having 

1220  their  hands  full  of  the  meat  of  their  own  flesh, 
with  their  hearts  and  their  inwards,  a  piteous 
load,  of  which  their  father  has  tasted !  As 
punishment  for  this  I  say  that  a  cowardly  lion, 
lurking  in  his  lair,  is  lying  in  wait  to  watch  for 
my  master  on  his  return.  I  say  "  my  master,"  for 
I  now  must  bear  the  yoke  of  slavery.  And  the 
commander  of  the  ships  and  the  destroyer  of 
Ilion  little  knows  what  the  tongue  of  this  lewd 
beast  has  uttered,  and  what  she  has  held  forth 
with     cheerful    countenance,    like     a    deceitful 

1230  Ate,  and  what  she  will  accomplish  by  evil 
fortune.  So  daring  is  she  ;  the  woman  is  the 
murderer  of  the  man.  By  calling  her  what 
odious  beast  can  I  hit  the  mark  ?  Can  I  call  her 
an  amphisbaena,  or  a  Scylla  dwelling  in  the 
rocks,  the  pest  of  sailors,  raging  mother  of 
Death,  breathing  an  implacable  curse  upon 
her  friends  ?     And  how  the    audacious   woman 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  103 

XOPOS 
ημΐν  γε  μεν  δη  πίστα  θεσπίζειν  δοκεϊς. 


ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 


ϊ         \        »        \  ,\         *  / 

lov  ιου,  ω  ω  κακά. 


1 2ΐ5    υπ*  civ  με  δειλός  όρθ  ο  μαντείας  πόνος 

στροβεΐ  ταράσσων  φροιμίοις  (δυσφροιμίοις). 
οράτε  τούσδε  τους  δόμοις  εφη  μένους 
νέους,  ονείρων  προσφέρεις  μορφωμασι  ; 
παίδες  θανόντες  ώσπερεϊ  προς  των  φίλων, 

ΐ22ο    -χεΐρας  κρεών  πληθοντες  οικείας  βοράς, 

συν  εντεροις  τε  σπλάγχν,  εποίκτιστον  γεμος, 
πρεπουσ   έχοντες,  ων  πατήρ  εγεύσατο. 
εκ  τώνδε  ποινάς  φημι  βουλεύειν  τινά 
λεοντ   άναλκιν  εν  λεχει  στρωφωμενον 

1225    οίκουρόν,  οΐμοι,  τω  μολόντι  δεσπότη 

εμω  •   φερειν  yap  χρη  το  δούλων  ζυγόν  • 
νέων  τ   έπαρχος  Ίλιου  τ   ανάστατης 
ουκ  οΤδεν  οία  γλώσσα  μισητής  κυνος 
λε^ασα  κάκτείνασα  φαιδρόνους,  δίκην 

1230    ατής  λαθραίου,  τεύζεται  κακή  τύχη. 
τοιαύτα  τολμά  •    θήλυς  άρσενος  φονεύς 
εστίν,     τί  νιν  καλούσα  δυσφιλες  δάκος 
τύχοιμ   αν  ;   άμφίσβαιναν,  η  %κύλλαν  τίνα 
οικούσαν  εν  πετραισι,  ναυτίλων  βλάβην, 

1235    θύουσαν  "Αιδου  μητερ  ,  άσπονδόν  τ   άράν 
φίλοις  πνεουσαν  ;   ως  δ'  επωλολύζατο 
η  παντότολμος,  ώσπερ  εν  μάχης  τροπή. 


104  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

exulted,  as  if  in  the  turn  of  battle :  and  she 
seems  to  delight  in  his  safe  return.  But  it  is 
all  one  whether  I  make  you  believe  any  of  this 
1240  or  not.  For  why?  The  future  will  come;  and 
soon  shall  you  be  present  as  a  witness,  and  in  your 
pity  declare  me  to  be  only  too  true  a  prophetess. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

The  banquet  of  Thyestes  on  his  children's 
flesh  I  know  and  have  shuddered  at ;  and  fear 
possesses  me  when  I  hear  thy  tale  told  with 
no  mere  semblance  of  truth.  But  as  to  the  rest, 
when  I  listen,  I  fall  from  my  course  and  run  wild. 

CASSANDRA 

I  say  that  you  are  to  behold  the  death  of 
Agamemnon. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Oh,  wretched  woman,  hush  thy  mouth  in  silence. 

CASSANDRA 
Ah,  no  God  of  healing  attends  this  saying. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

No,  not  if  it  is  to  be  done;  but  may  it  not  be 
done. 

CASSANDRA 

1250       You  make  prayers,  while  they  are  concerned 
with  murder. 

CHORUS    LEADER 


By  what  ma?i  is  this  grief  to  be  brought  about 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  105 

δοκεϊ  δε  χαίρειν  νοστίμω  σωτηρία, 
και  τωνδ*  ομοιον  ει  τι  μη  πείθω  •    τι  yap  ; 
1240    το  μέλλον  η  ζει.      καΐ  συ  μ   εν  τάχει  πάρων 
άγαν  άληθόμαντιν  οικτίρας  ερεΐς. 

XOPOS 

την  μεν  Θυέστου  δαίτα  παώείων  κρεων 
ξυνηκα  καΐ  πεφρικα,  καϊ  φόβος  μ    έχει 
κλύοντ   αληθώς  ονοεν  εξηκασμένα. 
1245    τα  δ*  αλλ'  άκουσας  4κ  δρόμου  πεσων  τρέχω. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
Αγαμέμνονος  σί  φημ   επόψεσθαι  μόρον. 

XOPOS 
εΰφημον,  ω  τάλαινα,  κοίμησον  στόμα. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
αλλ'  ούτι  παιων  τωδ*  επιστατεί  λόγω, 

XOPOS 
ουκ,  ειπερ  Ζσται  γ'  ■   άλλα  μη  γένοιτο  πως. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
1250    συ  μίν  κατεύχη,  τοις  δ'  άποκτείνειν  μέλει. 

XOPOS 
τίνος  προς  ανδρός  τυυτ   άγος  πορσύνεται  ; 


io6  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

CASSANDRA 

Surely   you    must    have    misapprehended   my 
divinations. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

For    I    have    not  understood  the  plan  of  him 
who  is  to  execute  it. 

CASSANDRA 
Yet  I  understand  Greek  speech  only  too  well. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

So  do  the  Pythian  oracles;  but  still  they  are 
hard  to  understand. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas  !  What  is  this  fire  !  And  it  is  coming  upon 
me.  Woe  is  me,  Lyceian  Apollo,  woe  is  me.  This 
two-footed  lioness,  bedded  with  the  wolf,  in  the 
1260  absence  of  the  noble  lion,  is  to  slay  me  wretched; 
and  like  one  mixing  a  potion,  she  will  add  to  the 
cup  of  her  wrath  also  a  requital  for  me.  And  she 
boasts,  as  she  is  whetting  her  sword  for  her  hus- 
band, that  she  will  repay  him  with  murder  for 
bringing  me  hither.  Why  do  I  keep  these  things 
that  merely  bring  laughter  upon  me,  my  wands 
and  these  prophetic  fillets  on  my  neck  ?  Thee  I 
will  destroy  before  I  meet  my  fate.  Go  ye  down 
to  destruction,  and  I  will  follow.  Enrich  some 
other  pest  instead  of  me.  Behold,  here  is  Apollo 
himself  stripping  me  of  my  oracular  robes,  after 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  107 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
rj  κάρτ   αρ   αν  παρεσκόπεις  χρησμών  εμών. 

XOPOS 
του  γαρ  τελούντος  ου  ξυνήκα  μηχανην. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
καΐ  μην  ayav  y    ΈΧλην    επίσταμαι  φάτιν. 

XOPOS 
1255    καΐ  yap  τα  πυθόκραντα  •    δυσμαθή  δ'  όμως. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

παπαΓ,  οίον  το  πυρ  ■    επέρχεται  δε'  μοι. 

οτοτοΐ,  Αύκει     Απολλον,  ol  εγω  εγώ. 

αυτή  οίπους  λεαυ>α  συγκοιμωμενη 

λύκω,  λέοντος  ευγενούς  απουσία, 
ΐ26ο    κτενεί  με  την  τάλαιναν  •    ως  δε  φάρμακον 

τεύχουσα  κάμου  μισθον  ενθησει  κότω  • 

κάπεύχεται  θηγουσα  φωτϊ  φάσγανον 

εμης  αγωγής  άντιτείσασθαι  φόνον. 

τί  %>ήτ    εμαυτης  καταγέλωτ    εχω  τάδε, 
1265    καϊ  σκήπτρα  καΐ  μαντεία  περί  ΰέρη  στίφη  ; 

σε  μεν  προ  μοίρας  της  εμης  8υαφθερώ. 

lt   ες  ψσορον  πεσοντ  ,  εγω  ο    αμ   εψο/χαι  ■ 

αλλην  τιν   ατην  άντ    εμού  πλουτίζετε. 

ιοου  ο    Απόλλων  αυτός  εκουων  εμε 


io8  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

1270  he  has  seen  me  even  in  this  garb  ridiculed  among 
friends  by  my  enemies  without  dissent,  but  with- 
out cause.  And  I  endured  like  a  vagrant  wanderer 
to  be  called  a  beggar,  a  wretch,  a  starveling.  And 
now  the  prophet,  having  undone  me  a  prophetess, 
has  brought  me  to  these  fatal  fortunes.  Instead 
of  my  father's  altar  a  butcher's  block  awaits  me, 
when  I  am  smitten  in  hot  blood  by  murderous 
slaughter.     But  we  shall  not  die  dishonored  by 

1280  the  Gods;  for  there  shall  come  hereafter  another 
to  avenge  us,  a  child  who  will  slay  his  mother  and 
will  avenge  his  father;  and  he  who  is  now  a  wan- 
dering exile,  a  stranger  to  this  land,  will  return  to 
put  the  coping  stone  to  this  edifice  of  calamity  for 
his  house.  For  a  mighty  oath  has  been  sworn 
by  the  Gods,  that  the  fall  of  his  murdered  father 
shall  bring  him  home  again.  Why  now  do  I 
abide  here  thus  lamenting,  since  first  I  have  seen 
the  city  of  Ilion  faring  as  it  has  fared,  and  since 
I  have  seen  those  who  held  the  city  come  out  thus 

1290  in  the  judgment  of  the  Gods?  I  will  go  to  meet 
my  fate:  I  will  endure  to  die.  These  gates  that 
are  before  me  I  address  as  the  gates  of  Hades ; 
and  I  pray  that  I  may  receive  a  fatal  blow,  so  that 
without  a  struggle,  my  life-blood  flowing  in  easy 
death,  I  may  close  these  eyes. 


CHORUS    LEADER 

Oh,  woman  of  much  grief,  but  also  of  much 
wisdom,  thou  hast  spoken  at  length;  but  if  thou 
truly  knowest  thy  own  fate,  why  dost  thou  step 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ιο9 

Ι27°    χρηστηρίαν  εσθητ  ,  εποπτεύσας  δε  με 

κάν  τοισδε  κόσμοις  καταγελωμενην  μέγα 
φίλων  νπ   εχθρών,  ου  διχορρόπως,  μάτην, 
καλούμενη  δε,  φοιτάς  ώς  άγύρτρια, 
πτωχός  τάλαινα  λιμοθνης  ηνεσχόμην. 

1275    και  νυν  6  μάντις  μάντιν  εκπράζας  εμε 
άπήγαγ*  ες  τοιάσδε  θανάσιμους  τι/^ας. 
βωμού  πατρώου  δ*  άντ   επίζηνον  μένει, 
θερμω  κοπείσης  φοινίω  προσφάγματι. 
ου  μην  άτιμοι  γ'  εκ  θεών  τεθνηςομεν. 

ΐ28ο    ηζει  yap  ημών  άλλος  αυ  τιμάορος, 

μητροκτόνον  φίτυμα,  ποινατωρ  πατρός  • 
φυγάς  δ'  αλήτης  τήσδε  γης  άπόζενος 
κάτεισιν,  άτας  τάετδε  θριγκώσων  φίλοις  • 
όμώμοται  γαρ  όρκος  εκ  θεών  μέγας, 

1285    άζειν  νιν  υπτίασμα  κείμενου  πατρός, 
τί  $ήτ   εγώ  κάτοικος  ώδ'  άναστενω, 
επεί  το  πρώτον  ειδον  Ιλίου  πόλιν 
πράζασαν  ώς  επραζεν,  οι  δ*  ειχον  πόλιν 
ούτως  άπαλλάσσουσιν  εν  θεών  κρίσει ; 

1 290    ιουσα  πράζω  •  τλησομαι  το  κατθανεΐν. 
"Άιδου  πύλας  δε  τάσο*  εγώ  προσεννεπω  • 
επεύχομαι  δε  καίριας  πληγής  τυχεΐν, 
ώς  άσφάδαστος,  αιμάτων  ευθνησίμων 
άπορρυεντων,  όμμα  συμβάλω  τόοε. 

XOPOS 

1295    ω  πολλά  μεν  τάλαινα,  πολλά  δ*  αυ  σοφή 
γννα,ι,  μακράν  ετεινας.      ει  δ'  ετητύμως 


no  AESCHYLUS'    AGAMEMNON 

to  the  altar  with  such  calm  courage,  like  an  ox 
whom  a  God  drives  to  the  sacrifice? 

CASSANDRA 

There  is  no  escape;  there  is  none,  strangers, 
for  a  longer  time. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

1300       And  yet   he  who  comes  last  in  time  has  an 
advantage. 

CASSANDRA 
My  day  has  come;  I  shall  gain  little  by  flight. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

But  know  that  thou  art  suffering  with  a  coura- 
geous heart. 

CASSANDRA 

That  is  a  consolation  that  no  happy  man  ever 
hears. 

CHORUS    LEADER 
But  it  is  a  boon  for  a  mortal  to  die  nobly. 

CASSANDRA 

Alas,   oh,  father,  for  thee  and  for  thy  noble 
children! 

CHORUS    LEADER 
What  is  it  now?    What  terror  turns  thee  back? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 

μόρον  τον  αυτής  οισθα,  πως  θεηλάτου 
βοος  δίκην  προς  βωμον  εύτόλμως  πατείς  ; 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ουκ  έστ   αλνξίς,  ου,  ξένοι,  χρόνον  πλέω. 

XOPOS 
1300    6  δ'  ύστατος  γε  τον  χρόνου  πρεσβεύεται. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ήκει  τό&  ήμαρ  •   σμικρά  κερδανω  φυγή. 

XOPOS 
αλλ'  ϊσθι  τλήμων  ουσ*  απ*  εύτόλμου  φρενός. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ουδείς  ακούει  ταύτα  των  εύδαιμόνων. 

XOPOS 
αλλ'  εύκλεώς  τοι  κατθανείν  χάρις  βροτω. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
ΐ3°5    Ιω  πάτερ  σου  σων  τε  γενναίων  τέκνων. 

ΧΟΡΟΞ 
τι  δ'  εστί  χρήμα  ;  τις  σ   αποστρέφει  φόβος  ; 


III 


ii2  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CASSANDRA 
Oh,  horror!  horror! 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Why  hast  thou  uttered  this  cry,  unless  there  is 
some  loathing  in  thy  heart? 

CASSANDRA 

This  house  has  the  scent  of  murder  dripping 
with  blood. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

But  how  is  that  ?     This  scent  is  from  the  sacri- 
ΐ3χο  fices  of  the  central  hearth. 

CASSANDRA 
It  seems  like  a  blast  from  the  tomb. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

It  is  no  glory  of   Syrian  perfumes   that  thou 
ascribest  to  this  house. 

CASSANDRA 

I  am  going  into  the  house,  there  also  to  bewail 
my  death  and  Agamemnon's.  Enough  of  life,  Ο 
strangers.  It  is  not  in  vain  that  I  shrink  from 
this  house  in  terror  as  a  bird  flutters  around  a 
bush.  When  I  am  dead,  bear  testimony  to  this, 
when  a  woman  shall  die  to  avenge  me  a  woman, 
and  when  a  man  shall  fall  to  avenge  an  ill-wedded 
1320  man.  I  ask  this  gift  of  hospitality  from  you  as 
one  about  to  die. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  113 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
φευ  φευ. 

XOPOS 
τί  τουτ   εφευξας  ;   ει  τι  μη  φρένων  στύγος. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
φόνον  δό/χοι  πνεουσιν  αιματοσταγη. 

XOPOS 
ΐ3ίο         καϊ  πως ;   τό&  όζει  Θυμάτων  εφεστιων. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 
όμοιος  άτμος  ωσπερ  εκ  τάφου  πρέπει. 

Χ0Ρ03 
ου  Σύριον  αγλάισμα  ΰώμασι,ν  λέγεις. 

ΚΑ3ΑΝΔΡΑ 

αλλ'  είμι  καν  δό/xoicri  κωκύσουα   εμην 
Αγαμέμνονος  τε  μοίραν.      άρκείτω  βίος. 

13Ι5         ΐώ  ζενοι. 

ούτοι  $υσοίζω  θάμνον  ως  όρνις  φόβω 
άλλως  -    θανούση  μαρτυρείτε  μοι  τόδε, 
όταν  γυνή  γυναικός  άντ    εμού  θανή, 
άνηρ  τε  ΰυσΰάμαρτος  άντ   άνΒρος  πεση. 

ΐ32°         επιζενουμαι  ταύτα  δ'  ως  θανουμενη. 

AGAMEMNON  —  8 


ii4  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


CHORUS    LEADER 

Oh,  wretched  woman,  I  pity  thee  for  the  death 
thou  hast  foretold. 


CASSANDRA 

I  wish  once  more  to  speak,  or  rather  to  sing 
my  own  dirge;  and  I  pray  to  the  sun  in  the 
presence  of    this  last    light    of    his,      *      *      * 

****** 

when  I  die  as  a  slave,  an  easy  victim.  Alas  for 
human  fortunes.  When  they  are  happy,  a  mere 
shadow  can  overturn  them ;  but  if  they  are  ca- 
lamitous, a  wetted  sponge  by  one  stroke  obliter- 
1330  ates  all  trace :  and  for  this  last  I  have  more  pity 
than  for  the  former. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Prosperity  is  ever  insatiate  with  all  mortals ; 
but  no  one  ever  shuts  her  out  from  his  house  say- 
ing "  No  longer  enter  here."  So  to  this  man  the 
blessed  Gods  have  granted  to  capture  Priam's  city, 
and  honored  by  God  he  returns  home.  But,  now, 
if  he  is  to  atone  for  the  blood  of  former  victims, 
1340  and  dying  for  those  who  have  died  is  to  pay  the 
penalty  for  other  deaths,  what  mortal  hearing 
this  would  ever  boast  that  he  was  born  with  a 
fate  free  from  harm  ? 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ιι5 

XOPOS 
ώ  τλημον,  οικτίρω  σε  Θεσφάτου  μόρου. 

ΚΑ^ΑΝΔΡΑ 

άπαζ  ετ   ειπείν  ρησιν  η  θρηνον  θέλω 
εμον  τον  αυτής.      ηλίω  δ*  επεύχομαι 
προς  ύστατον  φως  Τ  τοις  εμοΐς  τιμαόροις 

χ325         ίχθροίς  φονευσι  τοις  εμοϊς  τίνειν  ομου,ί 
δούλης  θανούσης,  εύμαρους  γειρώματος. 
ιω  βρότεια  πράγματ   •    ευτυγουντα  μεν 
σκιά  τις  αν  τρέψειεν  •    el  he  $υστυχτ}, 
βολαίς  ύγρωσσων  σπόγγος  ωλεσεν  γραφην. 

ΐ33°         και  ταυτ   εκείνων  μάλλον  οικτίρω  πολύ. 

XOPOS 

το  μεν  ευ  πράσσειν  άκόρεστον  εφυ 

πασι  βροτοίσιν  •    ΰακτυλοΰείκτων  δ' 

ούτις  άπειπων  ειργει  μελάθρων, 

μηκετ   εσελθης,  ταοε  φωνών. 
1335         καΐ  τωδε  πόλιν  μεν  ελεϊν  εδοσαν 

μάκαρες  Πρίαμου  • 

σεοτιμητος  ο   οικαο   ικανει. 

νυν  δ'  ει  προτέρων  αίμ   άποτείση 

και  τοϊσι  θανουσι  θανών  άλλων 
134°         ποινας  θανάτων  επικρανη, 

τις  ποτ9  αν  εύζαιτο  βροτών  άσινεί 

δα'μονι  φυναι  τάδ'  άκούων  ; 


n6  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

AGAMEMNON 

Oh,  woe  is  me !  I  am  struck  to  the  heart  with 
a  fatal  blow. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Silence !  Who  cries  out,  struck  with  a  fatal 
blow  ? 

AGAMEMNON 

1345       Woe  is  me  again,  struck  with  a  second  blow ! 

CHORUS    LEADER 

It  seems  to  me,  by  the  wailing  of  the  king, 
that  the  deed  has  been  done.  But  let  us  take 
counsel,  in  case  any  safe  plan  shall  appear. 

MEMBERS    OF   THE    CHORUS 

1.  I  give  you  my  opinion,  that  we  should  pro- 
claim to  the  citizens  to  bring  help  hither  to  the 
palace. 
1350  2.  And  it  seems  to  me  that  we  should  rush  in 
with  all  speed,  and  convict  the  murderer  in  the 
act  with  his  newly  dripping  sword. 

3.  And  I  share  in  the  same  opinion,  and  I  vote 
to  do  something.     It  is  high  time  for  no  delay. 

4.  Yes,  we  can  see ;  for  they  are  beginning 
to  act  like  men  who  would  threaten  the  state  with 
tyranny. 

5.  Yes,  for  we  are  slow ;  but  they  trample 
under  foot  the  glory  of  delay,  and  are  sleepless 
with  their  hands. 

6.  I  know  not  what  advice  I  can  find  to  utter. 
It  is  the  part  of  one  who  acts  also  to  take  counsel. 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ιι7 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
ωμοί,  πεπληγμαι  καιρίαν  πληγήν  εσω. 

XOPOS 
σίγα  •   τίς  πληγήν  άϋτεί  καιρίως  οντασμενος  ; 

ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ 
1345    ωμοί  μάλ*  αΰθίς,  οευτεραν  πεπληγμενος. 

XOPOS 

τούργον  είργάσθαι  Βοκεϊ  μου  βασιλέως  οΐμώγματι  • 
αλλά  κοινωσώμεθ*  ην  πως  ασφαλή  βουλεύματα. 

ΧΟΡΕΥΤΑΙ 

ι.   εγω  μεν  νμίν  τήν  εμήν  γνώμην  λέγω, 

προς  $ωμα  δευρ*  άστοΐσι  κηρύσσειν  βοήν. 
1 35°    2•  εμοϊ  ο*  όπως  τάχιστα  y   εμπεσείν  δοκει 

καΐ  πραγμ   ελεγχειν  συν  νεορρύτω  ζίφει. 
3•   κάγω  τοιούτον  γνώματος  κοινωνός  ων 

ψηφίζομαι  τι  οραν  ■   το  μή  μελλειν  δ*  ακμή. 
4•   οραν  πάρεστι '   φροιμιαζονται  γαρ  ώς 
1355         τυραννικός  σημεία  πράσσοντες  πόλει. 

5•  χρονίζομεν  γαρ.      οι  δε  της  μελλούς  κλέος 

πε'οοι  πατουντες  ου  καθεύοουσιν  χερί. 
6.   ουκ  οιδα  βουλής  ήστινος  τυχών  λέγω. 

του  δρωντός  εστί  καϊ  το  βουλευσαι  περί. 


u8  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

1360       7.    And  I  take  the  same  view,  for  I  am  at  a 
loss  to  know  how  to  raise  the  dead  again  by  words. 

8.  Shall  we  let  our  lives  go  on,  and  thus  yield 
to  these  men  in  power  who  are  disgracing  this 
house  ? 

9.  That  is  not  endurable:  it  is  better  to  die, 
for  death  is  a  gentler  fate  than  tyranny. 

10.  Well  now!  on  the  testimonies  of  mere 
groans  are  we  to  divine  that  the  man  is  really 
dead  ? 

11.  We  ought  to  speak  on  this  from  clear 
knowledge ;  but  guessing  is  very  far  from  know- 
ing clearly. 

12.  (TJie    Chorus   Leader.)     I    am    supported 
1370  from  all  sides  in  approving  this,  that  we  learn 

clearly  how  it  really  fares  with  the  son  of  Atreus. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Having  said  much  before  this  to  suit  the  mo- 
ment, I  will  not  be  ashamed  now  to  speak  the 
opposite.  For  how  can  any  one,  who  is  devising 
hostility  to  foes  who  profess  to  be  friends,  sur- 
round them  with  woe  like  a  net  too  high  to  be 
leapt  over  ?  To  me  now  this  contest,  which  of 
old  has  never  been  forgetful  of  a  former  victory, 
has  come  in  time,  but  it  has  come.  I  stand  where 
I  smote  him,  with  the  deed  accomplished.  And 
1380  I  so  did  it,  for  I  will  not  deny  it,  that  he  should 
neither  escape  nor  ward  off  his  fate.  I  surround 
him,  like  a  shoal  of  fish,  with  a  net  which  had  no 
outlet,  a  fatal  wealth  of  robe.  And  I  smite  him 
twice,  and  with  two  groans  he  relaxes  his  limbs ; 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ιι9 

1360    7•   κάγω  τοιούτος  είμ,  επεϊ  ΰυσμηγανω 
λόγοισι  τον  θανόντ  άνιστάναι  πάλιν. 
8.  η  καϊ  βίον  τείνοντες  ωδ'  νπείζομεν 

δόμων  καταισχυντη ρσι  τοισδ'  ηγονμενοις  ; 
9•   αλλ'  ουκ  άνεκτόν,  άλλα  κατθανεΐν  κρατεί,  • 
ΐ365         πεπαιτερα  yap  μοίρα  της  τυραννικός. 
ίο.   η  γαρ  τεκμηρίοισιν  εζ  οίμωγμάτων 

μαντευσόμεσθα  τάνδρος  ως  ολωλότος  ; 
ιι.   σάφ*  ε186τας  χρη  τωνοε  μνθείσθαι  περί  • 
το  γαρ  τοπάζειν  τον  <χάφ'  εΙ*οεναι  διχα. 
1370  ΐ2.  ταύτην  επαινεΐν  πάντοθεν  πληθύνομαι, 

τρανως  Άτρείδην  ei6eVat,  κυροννθ'  όπως. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 

πολλών  πάροιθεν  καιριως  είρημενων 

τάναντι    ειπείν  ουκ  επαισχννθήσομαι. 

πως  γαρ  τις  εγθροίς  εγθρά  πορσύνων,  φίλοις 

1375    ΰοκονσιν  etz/at,  πημονην  άρκνστατ   αν 
φράζειεν,  νφος  κρείσσον  εκπηΰήματος  ; 
εμοι  ο   άγων  οο   ουκ  αφροντιστος  παΚαι 
νίκης  παλαιάς  ήλθε,  συν  χρόνω  γε  μην  ■ 
εστηκα  δ'  ενθ*  Ιπαισ*  eV  εξειργασμενοις. 

ΐ38°    ουΓω  δ'  έπραξα,  καϊ  τάδ'  ουκ  άρνησομαι, 
ως  μήτε  φεύγειν  μητ    άμύνεσθαι  μόρον. 
άπειρον  άμφίβληστρον,  ωσπερ  ιχθύων, 
περιστιγίζω,  πλουτον  ειματος  κακόν, 
παίω  δε  νιν  δις  ■    καν  hvolv  οιμωγματοιν 

χ385    μεθηκεν  αύτον  κωλα  ■    και  πεπτωκοτι 


120  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

and  when  he  has  fallen,  I  add  a  third  blow,  a 
grateful  boon  to  Hades  beneath  the  earth,  the 
saviour  of  the  dead.  Thus  falling,  he  pants  forth 
his  life;  and  as  he  breathes  forth  the  sharp  gush 
1390  of  his  life-blood,  he  strikes  me  with  a  dark  drop  of 
deadly  dew,  and  I  rejoice  in  it  no  less  than  the 
sown  field  rejoices  in  beauty  sent  from  Zeus  in 
the  bursting  of  the  flower-cup.  Since  this  is  so, 
aged  men  of  Argos,  you  may  rejoice  if  so  you 
please ;  but  I  exult.  And  if  it  were  becoming  to 
pour  a  libation  over  this  dead  man,  this  would  be 
just,  nay,  exceeding  just.  With  so  many  cursed 
calamities  has  he  filled  the  cup  in  this  house,  and 
now  he  has  come  home  to  drain  it  off. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

We  wonder  at  thy  tongue,  —  how  bold-mouthed 
1400  thou  art,  who  dost  utter  such  a  boastful  speech 
over  thy  husband. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

You  are  trying  me  as  if  I  were  a  foolish 
woman  ;  but  I  with  fearless  heart  say  to  you  who 
know,  —  and  it  is  all  one  to  me  whether  you  wish 
to  approve  or  to  blame  me  :  "  This  is  Agamem- 
non, my  husband,  now  dead,  the  work  of  this  right 
hand,  a  righteous  worker.     So  stands  the  case." 

CHORUS 

What  evil  thing  hast  thou  eaten  which  grew 
on  earth,  or  what  hast  thou  drunk  which  came 
from  the  flowing  sea,  that  thou  hast  placed  this 


ΑΠΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι2ι 

τρίτην  επενδίδωμι,  του  κατά.  χθονος 
"Xihov  νεκρών  σωτηρος  εύκταίαν  χάριν, 
ούτω  τον  αύτοΰ  θυμον  όρμαίνει  πεσών, 
κάκφυσιων  όξείαν  αίματος  σφαγην 

1 39°    βάλλει  μ    ερεμνη  ψακάδι,  φοινίας  δρόσου, 
χαίρουσαν  ουδέν  ησσον  η  διοσδότω 
γάνει  σπορητος  κάλυκος  εν  λοχεύμασιν. 
ως  ώδ*  εχόντων,  πρεσβος  Άργείων  τόδε, 
χαίροιτ  αν,  εΐ  χαίροιτ  ,  εγω  δ'  επεύχομαι. 

'395    ei  δ'  ην  πρεπόντων  ωστ   επισπένδειν  νεκρω, 
τωο   αν  δικαίως  ην,  ύπερδίκως  μεν  ουν. 
τοσωνδε  κρατήρ*  εν  δόμοις  κακών  όδε 
πλησας  άραίων  αυτός  εκπίνει  μολών. 

XOPOS 

θαυμάζομέν  σου  γλωσσαν,  ως  θρασύστομος, 
1400    ήτις  τοιόνδ*  επ*  άνδρϊ  κομπάζεις  λόγον. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 

πειράσθέ  μου  γυναικός  ως  άφράσμονος  • 
εγω  δ'  άτρεστω  καρδία  προς  ειδότας 
λέγω  •    συ  δ'  αΐνείν  είτε  με  \\ίέγειν  θέλεις 
όμοιον.      οΰτός  εστίν  Αγαμέμνων,  εμός 
ΐ4°5    πόσις,  νεκρός  δε,  τησδε  δεξιάς  χερος 
έργον,  δικαίας  τεκτονος.     τάδ'  ώδ*  έχει. 

XOPOS 

τι  κακόν,  ω  ywat,  χθονοτρεφες  εδανον  Str. 

η  ποτον  πασα/xeVa  ρυτάς  εξ  αλός  όρμενον 


122  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

incense  upon  thy  head  with  the  people's  curses. 
1410  Thou  hast  cast  him  out,  thou  hast  cut  him  off; 
and  thou  shalt  be  cut  off  from  the  city,  a  mighty 
abomination  to  the  citizens. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Now  you  would  condemn  me  to  be  exiled  from 
the  city  and  to  have  the  hatred  of  the  citizens 
and  the  people's  curses,  when  you  brought 
nothing  like  this  against  this  man,  who,  regard- 
ing it  as  little  as  if  it  had  been  the  death  of  a 
beast,  while  sheep  were  abounding  in  his  fleecy 
flocks,  sacrificed  his  own  daughter,  my  dearest 
offspring,  to  quiet  the  Thracian  blasts.  Should 
you  not  have  banished  him  from  this  land  as  a 
punishment  for  his  foul  deeds  ?  When  you  hear 
1420  of  my  acts  you  are  a  harsh  judge;  but  I  tell  you 
to  go  on  with  your  threats,  for  I  am  prepared 
on  equal  terms,  if  you  overpower  me  by  your 
hands,  to  let  you  rule  me ;  but  if  God  wills  it 
otherwise,  taught  late  in  life,  you  shall  learn  a 
lesson  of  prudence. 

CHORUS 

Thou  hast  grand  thoughts,  and  hast  uttered 
haughty  words.  Thy  mind  is  maddened,  as  it 
were,  by  thy  murderous  fortune.  A  clot  of 
blood  is  to  be  seen  on  thy  brow  yet  unatoned ; 
and  hereafter,  bereft  of  friends,  thou  must  pay 
143°  blow  for  blow. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  123 

τόδ'  επεθον  θνος  δημοθρόονς  τ'  αράς  ; 
1410    άπέδίκες,  άπεταμες  •   άπόπολυς  δ'  εστ) 
μίσος  οβριμον  αστοις. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

νυν  μεν  δικάζεις  (κ  πόλεως  φνγην  εμοι 
και  μίσος  αστών  ΰημόθρονς  τ   εχειν  άράτ, 
ovhev  τόδ'  άνΰρΐ  τωό    εναντίον  φέρων  * 

1415    ος  ου  προτιμών,  ώσπερει  βοτον  μορον, 
μήλων  φλεόντων  ενπόκοις  νομενμασιν, 
εθνσεν  αντον  παΓδα,  φίλτάτην  εμοϊ 
ώ$ϊν\  βπωδό^  θρτ)κίων  άηματων. 
ου  τούτον  εκ  γης  τήσοε  χρήν  σ'  άνορηλατείν, 

1420    μιασμάτων  αποιν  ;    επηκοος  ο    εμών 

έργων  οι,καστης  τραχύς  εϊ.      λέγω  δε  σοι 
τοιαντ   άπειλείν,  ως  παρεσκενασμενης 
εκ  των  ομοίων  χειρι*  νικήσαντ   εμον 
αρχειν  •    εάν  δε  τον  μπαλιν  κραίντ)  θεός, 

1425    γνώστ)  οιοαχθείς  όψε  γονν  το  σωφρονει,ν. 

X0P0S 

μεγαλόμητι,ς  ει,  ττερίφρονα  δ*  ελακες  ■  Ant. 

ώσπερ  ονν  φονολιβεΐ  τνχα  φρην  επιμαίνεται  • 
λίπος  επ*  ομμάτων  αίματος  εμπ ρέπει 
άτίετον.      ετι  σε  χρη  στερομεναν  φίλων 
143°    τνμμα  τνμματι  τεισαι. 


124  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


CLYTAEMNESTRA 

And  now  you  hear  the  solemn  justice  of  my 
oaths.  By  the  accomplished  vengeance  for  my 
daughter,  by  Ate  and  the  avenging  Fury  to  whom 
I  sacrificed  this  man,  I  have  no  expectation  that 
fear  will  tread  my  house  so  long  as  Aegisthus 
kindles  the  fire  upon  my  hearth,  kindly  disposed  to 
me  as  of  old.  For  he  is  no  slight  shield  to  my 
courage.  Here  lies  the  man  who  foully  wronged 
this  woman,  the  darling  of  every  Chryseis  at  Ilion  ; 
144°  and  here  lies  this  captive  woman,  this  sorceress, 
his  concubine,  his  faithful  prophetic  companion, 
who  shared  with  him  the  benches  of  his  ship. 
They  have  suffered  a  fate  not  undeserved ;  for 
he  lies,  as  you  see ;  and  she,  having  like  a  swan 
sung  her  last  death  song,  lies  here,  his  lover; 
and  by  her  death  she  has  brought  to  me  fa  dainty 
dish  of  new  delight,  f 

CHORUS 

Alas  !    Ο  that  death  might  come  speedily,  not 
1450  with  heavy  pangs,  nor  lingering,  and  bring  to  us 
eternal  sleep,  now  that  our  most  friendly  guar- 
dian has  been  laid  low,  who  suffered  much  for  a 
woman's  sake  !  —  and  at  a  woman's  hands  he  has 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  125 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

και  τηνο*  άκονεις  ορκίων  εμων  θεμιν  ■ 
μα  την  τελειον  της  εμης  παιδός  Αίκην, 
*Ατην  Έριννν  'θ\  αίσι  τόνο'  έσφαζ*  εγώ, 
ον  μου  φόβον  μέλαθρον  ελπις  εμπατειν, 

Μ35         €ως  αν  αιθη  πνρ  εφ   εστίας  εμης 

Αίγισθος,  ώς  το  πρόσθεν  εν  φρονών  εμοί. 
οντος  γαρ  ημϊν  άσπις  ον  σμικρά  θράσονς. 
κείται  γνναικος  τήσδε  λνμαντηριος, 
Χρνση'ιδων  μείλιγμα  των  νπ    \λίω  • 

1440         η  τ'  αιχμάλωτος  ή$ε  καϊ  τερασκόπος 
η  κοινόλεκτρος  τονΰε,  θεσφατηλόγος 
πίστη  ξννεννος,  Ι ναυτίλων  οε  σελμάτων 
ισοτριβης.^      άτιμα  δ'  ονκ  επραζάτην. 
6  μεν  γάρ  όντως,  η  δε  τ  οι  κνκνον  οίκην 

1445  τον  νστατον  μελψασα  θανασιμον  γόον 
κείται  φιλητωρ  τονο\  εμοί  δ*  επηγαγεν 
^εννης  παροψώνημα  της  εμης  χλιδής.! 

XOPOS 

φεν,  τίς  αν  εν  τάχει,  μη  περιώοννος,  Str.  ι 

μη$ε  ο^μνιοτηρης, 
ΐ45°         μόλοι  τον  αεί  φερονσ    εν  ημιν 

ΜοΓρ'  άτελεντον  νπνον,  οαμεντος 
φνλακος  ενμενεστάτον 
πολεα  τλάντος  γνναικος  οιαί  ; 
προς  γνναικος  δ'  άπεφθισεν  βιον. 


126  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


lost  his  life.     Alas,  alas,  infatuated  Helen,  who 
alone  destroyed  the  many,  the  very  many  lives 
which  were  lost  at  Troy. 
1460         ♦♦♦#♦♦ 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Do  not  be  oppressed  by  this  and  invoke  on 
yourselves  the  fate  of  death;  and  do  not  turn 
your  wrath  against  Helen,  and  say  that  she  is  a 
murderess,  that  she  alone  destroyed  the  lives  of 
many  Grecian  men  and  wrought  this  crushing 
grief. 

CHORUS 

Ο  divinity,  who  dost  fall  upon  this  house  and 
147°  the  double  offspring  of  Tantalus,  and  dost  wield 
a  power  of  equal  might  with  theirs  in  women's 
hands,  heartrending  to  me.  Standing  over  this 
body  like  an  odious  crow,  he  exults  in  singing 
his  inharmonious  song. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Now  you  have  righted  the  judgment  of  your 
mouth,  in  invoking  the   thrice-gorged   avenging 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  127 

1455         I'j)  ίω  παράνονς  'EXeVa 

μία  τάς  πολλάς,  τάς  πάνυ  πολλάς 

ψυχάς  ολεσασ'  νπο  Τροία. 

t  ννν  οε  τελείαν  .   . 

η  πολνμναστον  επηνθίσω  αίμ  άνιπτον, 
1460         ήτις  ην  τότ   εν  δόμους 

ερις  ερι,οματος  ανορος  οιζνς.  Τ 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ^ΤΡΑ 

μηδέν  θανάτου  μοίραν  επενγου  Anap. 

τοισδε  βαρννθείς  • 
μ/^δ'  €l?  Έλενην  κότον  εκτρέψης, 
1465         ώς  άνδρολετειρ\  ως  μία  πολλών 
άντρων  ψυγας  Δαζ^αωζ^  όλεσασ 
άζνστατον  άλγος  έπραξε. 

XOPOS 

δαϊμον,  δς  εμπίτνεις  δώμασυ  /cat  δίφνί-  Ant.  ι 

otcrt  Ται/ταλιδα,ΜΓΐϊ>> 
1470         κράτος  τ   Ισόψυχον  εκ  γυναικών 
καρδίόδηκτον  εμοϊ  κρατύνεις. 
επί  δε  σώματος  δίκαν 
κόρακος  εχθρού  σταθείσ   εκνόμως 


9 


νμνον  νμνειν  επενγεται. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

Η75         ννν  δ'  ώρθωσας  στόματος  γνώμην,  Anap. 

τον  τριπάγνντον 


128  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


Fury  of  this  race.     It  is  owing  to  him  that  this 
passion  for  lapping  blood  is  nurtured  in  its  inward 
1480  parts:  before  the  ancient  grief  has  ceased,  new 
blood  is  shed. 

CHORUS 

It  is  a  mighty  deity  and  one  heavy  with  wrath 
that  thou  dost  tell  of  as  haunting  this  house, — 
alas,  in  a  direful  tale  of  baneful,  insatiate  for- 
tune,—  alas,  through  Zeus,  the  worker  of  all,  the 
cause  of  all.  For  what  comes  to  mortals  without 
Zeus?  What  of  all  this  is  not  divinely  ordered? 
149°  Alas,  Ο  king,  Ο  king,  how  shall  I  weep  for  thee? 
From  my  friendly  heart  what  shall  I  say  to  thee? 
Thou  liest  in  this  spider's  web,  breathing  out  thy 
life  in  impious  death.  Alas,  in  this  slavish  man- 
ner dost  thou  lie,  overpowered  by  deceitful  death, 
by  a  doubly  cutting  dart  from  the  hand. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

You  declare  that  this    deed  is    mine;   but    do 
not  say   that    I    am   the   wife   of   Agamemnon ; 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  129 

δαίμονα  γεννης  τησδε  κικλησκων. 
εκ  του  yap  έρως  αιματολοιχος 
νείρττ)  τρεφεταυ  •    πριν  καταληξαι 
1480  το  παλαιον  άχος,  νέος  Ιχωρ. 

XOPOS 

rj  μεγαν  οικονόμον  Str.  2 

δαίμονα  και  βαρύμηνιν  αίνεΐς, 
φευ  φευ,  κακόν  aivov  άτη- 
ρας  τύχας  ακόρεστου  • 
1485  irj  Ir)  olol  Διός 

παναιτίου  πανεργετα. 

τί  γαρ  βροτοις  άνευ  Διό?  τελείται ; 

τί  τωνδ'  ου  θεόκραντόν  εστίν  ; 

ίω  ιω  βασιλευ  βασιλβυ, 
149°  ττως  σε  δακρύσω  ; 

φρενός  εκ  φιλίας  τί  ποτ'  ειπώ  ; 
κείσαι  δ'  αράχνης  εν  ύφάσματι  τωδ' 
ασεβεί  θανάτω  βίον  εκπνεων,  — 
ωμοί  μοι  κοίταν  τάνδ*  άνελεύθερον 
1495  δολίω  μόρω  δαμείς 

εκ  χερος  άμφιτόμω  βελεμνω. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

αυχεΖς  είναι  τόδε  τοΰργον  εμόν  ■  Αη£Φ• 

μηδ*  επιλεχθτ}ς 
Άγαμεμνονίαν  eii^ai  μ'  αλοχον. 

AGAMEMNON  —  9 


i3o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


but  the  ancient  grim  avenger  of  Atreus,  savage 
1500  feaster,  likening  himself  to  the  wife  of  this  dead 
man,   paid  him  as  a  penalty,  sacrificing   a   full- 
grown  man  for  infant  children. 

CHORUS 

That  thou  art  guiltless  of  this  murder,  who  will 
testify?  How,  how?  And  yet  the  avenging 
Fury  of  the  father  may  prove  to  be  thy  helper. 
Black  Ares  forces  his  way  through  streams  of 
kindred  blood  to  a  point  where  he  will  work  ven- 
1510  geance  for  the  gore  of  the  devoured  children. 

Alas,  Ο  king,  Ο  king,  how  shall  I  weep  for  thee? 
From  my  friendly  heart  what  shall  I  say  to  thee? 
Thou  liest  in  this  spider's  web,  breathing  out  thy 
life  in  impious  death.  Alas,  in  this  slavish  man- 
ner dost  thou  lie,  overpowered  by  deceitful  death, 
by  a  doubly  cutting  dart  from  the  hand. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι3ι 

ΐ5°°  φανταζόμενος  δε  γυναικί  νεκρού 

τόνο    6  παλαιός  οριμνς  άλάστωρ 
Ατρεως  χαλεπού  θοινατηρος 
τόνο^  άπετεισεν, 
τέλεον  νεαροϊς  επιθύσας. 

XOPOS 

ΐ5°5  ώς  μεν  αναίτιος  εΧ  Ant.  2 

τονΒε  φόνου  τις  6  μαρτυρησων  ; 

πώς  πώς  ;    πατρόθεν  δε  συλλ^'- 

πτωρ  γενοιτ   αν  άλάστωρ. 

βιάζεται  δ'  ομοσπόροις 
ΐ5 ίο  επιρροαϊσιν  αιμάτων 

μέλας  "Αρης  οποί  h'lKav  προβαίνων 

πάχνα  κονροβόρω  παρεζει. 

ιω  ιω  /3α(τιλεί)  /3α<χιλευ, 
πώς  σε  ΰακρνσω  ; 
lSl5  φρενός  εκ  φιλίας  τι  ποτ   εΐπω  ; 

κείσαι  δ'  αράχνης  εν  νφάσματι  τωδ' 
άσεβεΐ  θανάτω  βίον  εκπνοών. 

ωμοί  μοι  κοίταν  τάνο*  άνελεύθερον 
δολιω  μόρω  δαμεις 
1520  Ικ  χερος  άμφιτόμω  βελεμνω. 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

\οντ   άνελεύθερον  οιμαι  θάνατον 
τωδε  γενέσθαι.] 


i32  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Has  he  not  brought  calamity  by  deceit  to  this 
1520  house?  And  to  my  offspring  begotten  by  him, 
the  much-bewailed  Iphigeneia,  having  done  things 
worthy  of  his  suffering,  and  now  suffering  things 
worthy  of  his  deed,  let  him  not  bewail  in  Hades, 
when  he  has  atoned  for  what  he  did  through  death 
by  the  sword. 

CHORUS 

I  am  at  a  loss,  bereft  of  thought,  for  some 
1530  ready  device,  whither  I  shall  turn  now  the  house 
is  falling.  I  fear  the  crash  of  the  storm  that  is  to 
destroy  this  house,  the  storm  of  blood;  the  drop- 
pings now  cease.  And  fate  is  whetting  the  sword 
of  Justice  for  a  new  deed  of  mischief  upon  new 
whetstones. 

Alas,  Ο  earth,  Ο  earth,  would  that  thou  hadst 
received  me  before  I  had  beheld  this  king  lying 
1540  low  in  the  bath  with  silvered  walls!  Who  now 
will  bury  him?  Who  will  lament  him?  Wilt  thou 
dare  to  do  this, — after  slaying  thy  husband  to 
bewail  his  soul,  and  unjustly  show  him  a  thank- 
less favor  in  requital  for  thy  odious  deeds.  What 
funeral  eulogy  over  this  godlike  man,  though 
1550  spoken  with  tears,  will  grieve  in  truth  of  soul? 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  133 

ουδέ  γαρ  ούτος  δόλιας  ατην  Anap. 

οΐκοισιν  εθηκ  ; 
1525         αλλ    e/xol•'  εκ  τονό    ερνος  αερσεν, 
την  πολνκλαύτην    Ιφιγενειαν, 
άζία  Βράσας  ά^ια  πάσχων 
μηδέν  iv  ""Α ιδού  μεγαλαυχείτω, 
ζιφοδηλήτω 
θανάτω  τείσας  άπερ  ερζεν. 

XOPOS 

153°         άμηχανω  φροντίδος  στερηθείς  Str.  3 

ενπάλαμον  μεριμναν 

οπα  τράπωμαι,  πίτνοντος  οικον. 

δεδοικα  δ*  ομβρον  κτνπον  δομοσφαλή 

τον  αίματηρόν    ψακάς  δε  λήγει. 
1535         δίκη  δ'  επ   άλλο  πράγμ   άορ  θήγει  βλάβης 

προς  άλλαις  θηγάναισι  Μοίρα. 

ιω  γα  γα,  ειυ    εμ    εοεςω, 

πρίν  τόνο*  επιδειν  άργνροτοίγον 
1540         δροίτας  κατέχοντα  χαμεννην. 

τίς  ο  θάψων  νιν  ;      τίς  ο  θρηνήσων ; 

η  σν  τόδ'  ερζαι  τλήσει,  κτείνασ 

άνδρα  τον  αυτής,  άποκωκυσαι 
^45         ψνχνν?  άχαριν  χάριν  άντ   έργων 

μεγάλων  αδίκως  επικράναι ; 

τίς  δ'  επιτύμβιος  αίνος  iif  άι^δρι  θείω 
σνν  δάκρνσιν  ιάπτων 
ΐ55°  άλαέ^ια  φρενών  πονήσει ; 


134  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


CLYTAEMNESTRA 

It  becomes  you  not  to  talk  thus  of  this  duty. 
By  us  he  fell,  by  us  he  died;  and  we  will  bury  him, 
but  not  with  lamentations  from  the  house ;  .  .  . 
but  his  daughter  Iphigeneia,  as  is  her  right,  will 
affectionately  meet  her  father  at  the  swift-flow- 
ing passage  of  sorrows,  and  throw  her  arms  about 
his  neck  and  kiss  him. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

1560  This  disgrace  has  come  to  atone  for  another 
disgrace.  These  are  hard  quarrels  to  settle. 
Some  one  spoils  the  spoiler,  the  slayer  pays  the 
penalty;  but  it  abides,  while  Zeus  remains  and 
le  endures,  that  the  doer  shall  suffer,  for  it  is 
the  law.  Who  can  expel  from  the  house  the 
accursed  brood  ?     This  race  is  welded  to  calamity. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

You  have  come  with  truth  upon  this  oracular 

saying.     And  I  am  ready  to  make  a  compact  with 

1570  the  divinity  of  the  Pleisthenidae,  that  I  will  ac- 


\ 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι35 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

ov  σε  προσήκει  το  μέλημα  λέγειν  Anap. 

τούτο-   προς  ημών 

κάππεσε,  κάτθανε,  καΐ  καταθάψομεν 

ονχ  νπο  κλανθμων  των  εζ  οίκων, 

1555  αλλ   Ιφιγένεια  νιν  άσπασίως 

θυγάτηρ,  ως  χρή, 
πάτερ   άντιάσασα  προς  ώκνπορον 
πόρθμευμ   άχέων 
περί  χ€.1ρ€  βαλονσα  φιλήσει,. 

XOPOS 

1560  όνειδος  ήκει  τόδ*  άντ  ονείδους.  Ant.  3 

hvo-μαγα  δ'  ecrrt  κρίναι. 

φέρει  φεροντ\  εκτίνει  δ'  ο  καινών. 

μίμνει  δε  μίμνοντος  εν  χρόνω  Διός 

παθείν  τον  ερζαντα.      θεσμιον  yap  • 
ΐ565  τίς  αν  γονάν  άραΐον  εκβάλοι  δόμων ; 

κεκόλληται  γένος  προς  άτα. 

«)Γ  *JF  *  *  ^*  * 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

ες  τόνο*  ενεβης  ζνν  άληθεία  Anap. 

•χρησμόν.      εγω  δ'  ονν 
εθελω  δαίμονι  τω  Τίλεισθενιδών 
ΐ57°  όρκους  θεμενη  τάδε  μεν  στεργειν, 


i36  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 


quiesce  in  this,  grievous  though  it  is,  and  for  the 
future  that  he  shall  depart  from  this  house  and 
waste  some  other  race  by  kindred  deaths.  And 
I  am  satisfied  to  have  a  small  portion  of  the 
wealth,  if  I  may  relieve  this  house  from  the  mad- 
ness of  murdering  one  another. 

AEGISTHUS 

Oh,  joyous  light  of  a  day  of  justice !  Now  I 
can  say  that  the  Gods  as  avengers  of  mortals 
look   from  above  on  the  woes  of  earth,  when  I 

1580  have  seen  this  man  to  my  delight  lying  in  the 
Furies'  woven  robes,  atoning  for  the  devices  of 
his  father's  hand.  For  Atreus,  the  ruler  of  this 
land,  this  man's  father,  drove  from  the  city  and 
his  home  Thyestes,  my  father  and  his  brother 
(to  tell  the  whole  tale),  when  his  power  was  dis- 
puted by  him.  And  wretched  Thyestes,  returning 
as  a  suppliant  to  his  hearthstone,  found  his  fate 
secure,  so  that  he  should  not  perish  on  the  spot 
and  stain  his  ancestral  pavement  with  his  blood. 

1590  But  this  man's  impious  father  Atreus,  by  way  of 
hospitality,  with  more  eagerness  than  friendship, 
while  he  professed  to  be  keeping  a  festal  day  with 
good  cheer,  set  before  my  father  a  banquet  of  his 
own  children's  flesh.  The  parts  about  the  feet 
and  the  finger-tips  he  broke  off,  as  he  sat  by  him- 
self at  the  head  of  the  table ;  and  my  father  in 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  1 37 

νστΚητα  περ  ονυ  ,  ο  οε  Κοίπον,  ίοντ 
εκ  τωνδε  δόμων  άλλην  γενεάν 
τρίβείν  θανάτοίς  ανθενταίσί  ■ 
κτεάνων  τε  μέρος 
βαίον  εχονση  πάν  άπόχρη  μοι 
1575    μανίας  μελάθρων 

άλληλοφόνονς  άφελονση. 

ΑΙΓΙΣΘΟ* 

ω  φέγγος  ενφρον  ημέρας  δίκηφόρου. 
φαίην  αν  ήδη  νυν  βροτών  τίμαόρους 
θεούς  άνωθεν  γης  εποπτεύείν  άχη, 

i5So    Ιδών  νφαντοΐς  εν  πέπλους  'Έρίννων 

τον  άνδρα  τόνδε  κείμενον  φίλως  εμοί, 
χερος  πατρώας  εκτίνοντα  μηχανάς. 
Άτρενς  γαρ  άρχων  τησδε  γης,  τοντον  πατήρ, 
πάτερα  θνεστην  τον  εμόν,  ώς  τορώς  φράσαί, 

1585    αυτοί)  δ*  άδελφόν,  άμφίλεκτος  ων  κρατεί, 
ήνδρηλάτησεν  εκ  πόλεως  τε  καϊ  δόμων, 
καϊ  προστρόπαιος  εστίας  μόλων  πάλιν 
τλημων  Θυέστης  μοΐραν  ηνρετ   ασφαλή, 
το  μη  θανών  πατρωον  αΐμάζαί  πεδον 

ΐ59°    αντον  •    ξενία  δε  τούδε  δνσθεος  πατήρ 

Άτρενς,  προθύμως  μάλλον  η  φίλως,  πατρί 
τώμω,  κρεονργον  ημαρ  ενθνμως  αγείν 
δοκών,  παρέσχε  δαϊτα  παίοείων  κρεων. 
τα.  μεν  ποδηρη  καϊ  χερών  άκρους  κτένας 

1595    εθρνπτ   άνωθεν  άνθρακας  καθήμενος  • 


138  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

his  ignorance,  hastily  taking  the  parts  which  were 
not  distinguishable,  ate  food  which,  as  you  see, 
was  full  of  destruction  to  our  race.  And  after- 
wards, when  he  recognized  his  unholy  deed,  he 
groaned  and  fell  back  vomiting  from  the  murder- 

1600  ous  feast ;  and  he  invoked  upon  the  Pelopidae  a 
doom  intolerable,  uniting  the  overturn  of  the  table 
with  a  general  curse  that  thus  might  perish  the 
whole  race  of  Pleisthenes.  From  this  you  now 
may  see  this  man  lying  dead.  And  I  am  the 
righteous  planner  of  this  murder ;  for  he  drove 
me  out  also,  when  I  was  a  new-born  babe  in  swad- 
dling clothes,  the  third  child  of  my  wretched 
father.  And  when  I  had  grown  up,  Justice  brought 
me  back  again  ;  and  while  I  was  abroad  I  worked 
against   this  man,  plotting    every  device  of  evil 

1610  counsel.  So  it  is  delightful  for  me  now  even  to 
die,  when  I  have  seen  this  man  in  the  nets  of 
Justice. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Aegisthus,  I  have  no  respect  for  insolence  amid 
calamities.  You  say  you  slew  this  man  of  your 
free  will,  and  that  you  alone  devised  this  piteous 
murder.  Be  assured,  I  declare  to  you,  that  in 
justice  your  head  shall  not  escape  the  stony  curses 
which  the  people  will  hurl. 

AEGISTHUS 

Do  you  talk  this  way,  sitting  at  the  lower  oar, 
when  those  who  sit  on  the  higher  bench  command 
the  ship  ?  Old  as  you  are,  you  shall  learn  that  it 
is  hard  for  those  of  your  age  to  be  taught  when 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  139 

άσημα  δ'  αυτών  αντίκ   αγνοία  λαβών 

εσθει  βοράν  άσωτον,  ώς  οράς,  γένει. 

κάπειτ    επιγνονς  έργον  ου  καταίσιον 

ωμωζεν,  άμπίπτει  δ*  από  σφαγής  ερών 
ιβοο    μόρον  δ'  άφερτον  ΙΙελοπίδαις  επενγεται, 

λάκτισμα  'οείπνον  ζννΰίκως  τιθεϊς  άρα 

όντως  ολεσθαι  παν  το  ΤΙλεισθένονϊ  γένος. 

εκ  τών*οε  σοι  πεσόντα  τόνο*  ιοειν  πάρα. 

κάγώ  'οίκαιος  τον*οε  τον  φόνον  ραφενς. 
1605    τρίτον  γαρ  οντά  μ3  επίτεκ    άθλιω  πατρι 

σννεζελαννει  τντθον  οντ   εν  σπαργάνοις  • 

τραφεντα  δ'  αυ^ί,ς  η  δίκη  κατηγαγεν. 

και  τονΰε  τάνορος  ήψάμην  θνραίος  ων, 

πάσαν  σννάφας  μ-ηγανην  8νσβονλίας. 
ιβιο    οντω  καλόν  δτ)  καϊ  το  κατθανειν  εμοί, 

ιδόντα  τοντον  της  ΰίκης  εν  ερκεσιν. 

XOPOS 

Κιγισθ* ι  νβριζειν  εν  κακοισιν  ον  σεβω. 
σν  δ*  άνορα  τόν'οε  ψτ)ς  εκών  κατακτανείν, 
μόνος  δ'  εποικτον  τόνΰε  βονλενσαι  φόνον 
1615    ου  φημ  άλνζειν  εν  $ίκτ)  το  σον  κάρα 

$ημορριφεΐς,  σάψ*  ΐσθι,  λενσίμονς  αράς. 

ΑΙΠ5Θ03 

σύ  ταύτα  φωνείς  νερτερα  προσημενος 
κώπτ),  κρατούντων  των  επί  ζνγω  ΰορός  ; 
γνώσει  γέρων  ών  ως  οιοάσκεσθαι  βαρν 


i4o  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

you  are  commanded  to  be  prudent.  Chains  and 
1620  hungry  pangs  are  most  powerful  healing  prophets 
of  the  soul  to  instruct  even  old  age.  Do  you  not 
see  when  you  behold  this  ?  Don't  kick  against 
the  pricks,  lest  you  strike  and  suffer. 

CHORUS   LEADER 

You  woman,  you  who  tarried  at  home  waiting 
for  those  who  returned  from  battle,  after  dis- 
gracing the  man's  bed  the  while,  did  you  plot  this 
death  against  the  great  commander  ? 

AEGISTHUS 

These  words  too  are  but  the  beginning  of  sor- 
row. You  have  a  tongue  most  unlike  that  of 
1630  Orpheus.  For  he  by  his  voice  led  all  things  after 
him  joyously;  but  you,  having  aroused  men  by 
your  mild  barkings,  will  yourself  be  led  captive ; 
and  you  will  appear  gentler  when  overcome. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

To  talk  about  your  being  tyrant  of  the  Argives, 
—  you,  who  when  you  had  plotted  death  for  this 
man,  did  not  dare  to  perform  the  deed  with  your 
own  hand ! 

AEGISTHUS 

Yes,  for  plotting  was  clearly  the  woman's  part ; 
since  I  was  a  suspected  enemy  from  my  very 
birth.     But  with  his  wealth  I  shall  try  to  rule  the 


ΑΙΣΧΥΛΟΥ   ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  ι4ι 

ι62ο    τω  τηλικοντω,  σωφρονεΐν  ειρημενον. 
δεσμός  δε  καϊ  το  γήρας  αϊ  τε  νήστιδες 
δυαι  διδάσκειν  εζοχώταται  φρένων 
Ιατρομαντεις.      ουχ  οράς  ορών  τάδε; 
προς  κέντρα  μη  λάκτιζε,  μη  τταίσας  μογης. 

XOPOS 

1625    γνναυ,  συ  τους  ηκοντας  εκ  μάχης  μένων 
οίκουρος  εννην  ανδρός   αίσχύνας  άμα, 
άνδρΐ  στρατηγώ  τόνδ*  εβούλευσας  μόρον ; 

AinSOOS 

και  ταντα  τάπη  κΚαυμάτων  άρχηγενη. 
Όρφεϊ  δε  γλώσσαν  την  εναντίαν  έχεις. 
1630    ο  μεν  γαρ  ηγε  πάντ   από  φθογγης  χαρά, 
συ  δ'  εξορίνας  ηπίοις  νλάγμασιν 
άζεί'   κρατηθείς  δ'  ημερώτερος  φάνει. 

XOPOS 

ως  δη  συ  μοι  τύραννος  Άργείων  εση, 
ος  ουκ,  επειδή  τωδ'  εβούλευσας  μόρον, 
ι635    δράσαι  τοδ*  έργον  ουκ  ετλης  αύτοκτονως. 

ΑΙΠ3Θ03 

το  γαρ  δολώσαι  προς  γυναικός  ην  σαφώς, 
εγώ  δ*  ύποπτος  εχθρός  η  πα\αιγενης. 
εκ  των  δε  τούδε  χρημάτων  πειρασομαι 


i42  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

citizens  ;  and  any  one  who  disobeys  me  I  will  put 
1640  under  a  heavy  yoke,  so  that  he  shall  no  longer 
run  as  a  rampant  colt  in  harness.  But  hateful 
hunger,  with  darkness  as  his  companion,  will  see 
him  made  gentle. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Why  in  the  baseness  of  your  soul  did  you  not 
slay  this  man  yourself,  but  let  a  woman,  the  pol- 
lution of  this  land  and  of  the  Gods  of  our  coun- 
try, join  in  the  murder  ?  Does  Orestes  anywhere 
still  behold  the  light,  that  he  may  return  home 
by  kindly  fortune  and  prove  an  all-powerful  de- 
stroyer of  both  of  these  ? 

AEGISTHUS 

Well,    since   you    think    of  acting   as   well  as 
1650  talking,  you    shall    quickly  find    out.     Ho  now ! 
friends  in  ambush,  your  work  is  not  far  off. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Ho  now !  let  every  one  be  ready  with  hand 
upon  his  sword. 

AEGISTHUS 

And  I,  with  hand  on  my  sword,  do  not  refuse 
to  die. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

We  hail  your  word  when  you  speak  of  death, 
and  we  accept  that  fortune. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝί2Ν  143 

άρχειν  πολιτών   τον  δε  μη  πειθάνορα 
1640    ζεύζω  βαρείαις  ούτι  μη  σειραφόρον 

κριθώντα  πώλοι/*    αλλ*  6  ουσφιλης  σκότω 
λιμός  ξύνοικος  μαλθακόν  σφ   ε'ποψεται. 

XOPOS 

τι  δτ)  τον  avhpa  τόνο*  από  ψυχής  κακής 
ουκ  αυτός  ηνάριζες,  αλλά  συν  γυνή 
1645    χώρας  /xiacr/xa  /cat  θεών  εγχωρίων 

εκτειν  ;      'Ορέστης  αρά  που  βλέπει  φαος, 
όπως  κατελθών  οευρο  πρευμενεΐ  τύχη 
άμφοΐν  γενηται  τοΐνΒε  παγκρατης  φονεύς  ; 

Ainseos 

αλλ'   ε'πει    οοκεΐς    τάδ'    ερΰειν  καϊ  λέγειν,  γνώσε 
τάχα. 
1650    εϊα  δη,  φίλοι  λοχΐταί,  τοϋργον  ούχ  εκάς  τόδε. 

XOPOS 
εϊα  δτ)?  ζίφος  πρόκωπον  πας  τις  εύτρεπιζετω. 

Ainseos 

άλλα  μην  κάγώ  πρόκωπος  ουκ  άναίνομαι  θανεΐν. 

XOPOS 

Βεχομένοις  λέγεις  θανεΐν  σε  ■   την  τύχην  δ*  αίρού- 
μεθα. 


144  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

By  no  means,  dearest  of  men,  let  us  do  more 
evils.  It  will  be  a  wretched  harvest  to  reap  even 
these  many  which  we  have  done.  Enough  of  woe 
we  have;  let  us  shed  no  more  blood.  Depart 
with  the  old  men  to  your  proper  homes,  before 
committing  any  fatal  act  and  suffering  the  pen- 
alty. What  we  have  already  done  we  had  to 
do.  If  this  should  prove  to  be  enough  of 
trouble,  we  would  accept  it,  grievously  smitten 
1660  as  we  are  by  the  heavy  hand  of  fate.  This  is 
the  word  of  a  woman,  if  any  one  sees  fit  to 
learn  from  it. 

AEGISTHUS 

But  to  think  that  these  men  should  thus  hurl 
upon  me  the  flowers  of  an  empty  tongue,  and 
should  utter  words  like  these,  tempting  fate,  and 
that  they  should  miss  wise  counsel  and  insult  the 
one  in  power. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

This  would  not  be  like  men  of  Argos,  to  fawn 
upon  a  base  man. 

AEGISTHUS 
But  I  will  still  pursue  you  in  days  to  come. 

CHORUS    LEADER 
Not  if  fate  shall  guide  Orestes  to  return  hither. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛΟΥ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  145 

KAYTAIMHSTPA 

μηδαμώς,  ω  φίλτατ  άντρων,  άλλα  δράσωμεν  κακά. 
1655    άλλα  και  τάδ'  efaurjcrai  πολλά  δύστηνον  θέρος  • 

πημονης  δ*  άλις  γ*  υπάρχει  •   μηδέν  αιματώμεθα. 

στείχε  και  συ  χοΐ  γέροντες  προς  δόμους  πεπραγ- 
μένους, 

πρίν  παθέίν  έρζαντ  άκαιρον  •   χρην  τάδ*  ως  επρά- 
ζαμεν. 

ει  δε  τοι  μόχθων  γένοιτο  τωνο*  άλις,  δεχοίμεθ*  αν, 
ι66ο    δαίμονος  χηλή  βαρεία  δυστυχώς  πεπληγμένοι. 

ώδ*  έχει  λόγος  γυναικός,  ει  τις  άζιοί  μαθέίν. 

ΑΙΠ3Θ0:> 

άλλα  τούσδ*   εμοϊ    ματαίαν    γλώσσαν    ώδ*   άπαν 

^ιοται 
κάκβαλεΐν  έπη  τοιαύτα  δαίμονος  πειρωμένους, 
σώφρονος  γνώμης   δ'   άμαρτέίν  τον   κρατούντα   θ* 

ύβρίσαι. 

XOPOS 
1665    ουκ  αν  Άργείων  τόδ*  ειη,  φώτα  προσσαίνειν  κακόν. 

Ainseos 

αλλ   εγώ  σ   εν  ύστέραισιν  ημέραις  μέτειμ   έτι. 

XOPOS 
ουκ,  εάν  δαίμων  Όρέστην  δευρ*  άπευθύνη  μολεΐν. 

AGAMEMNON  —  ΙΟ 


i46  AESCHYLUS'   AGAMEMNON 

AEGISTHUS 
I  know  that  men  in  exile  feed  on  hopes. 

CHORUS    LEADER 

Go  on,  wax  wanton,  and  defile  justice.     Now  is 
your  time. 

AEGISTHUS 

1670       Know  that  you  will  pay  the  penalty  for  this 
folly. 

CHORUS    LEADER 
Boast  and  be  bold,  like  a  cock  before  the  hen. 

CLYTAEMNESTRA 

Pay  no  attention  to  these  vain  barkings.     You 
and  I  in  power  over  this  house  will  set  it  all  right. 


ΑΙ2ΧΥΛ0Υ    ΑΓΑΜΕΜΝΩΝ  147 

AinSGOS 
οιδ*  εγώ  φεύγοντας  άνδρας  ελπίδας  αιτουμένους. 

XOPOS 
πρασσε,  πιαίνου,  μυαίνων  την  ΰίκην,  επεί  πάρα. 

ΑΙΠ3Θ03 

1670    Ισθι  μοι  $ώτων  άποινα  τήσδε  μωρίας  γάριν. 

XOPOS 
κόμπασον  θαρσών,  αλέκτωρ  ώστε  θηλείας  πελας. 

ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗ3ΤΡΑ 

μη  προτίμησης  ματαίων  τωνο'  ύλαγμάτων  •    εγώ 
και  συ  θησομεν  κρατουντε  τωνδε  δωμάτων  καλώς. 


Th     LOAN  DEPT. 

Renewals  mar  ^  <f ^^  ««-«U  on.,: 


.General  Library 

University  xtf  California 

Berkeley 


U.  C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CDM7Dimbfl 


■■Ρ 


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